Meet Simon: The 102-Year-Old WWII Veteran

Every Friday morning at Ohman Family Living at Briar, you'll likely find Simon in the dining room at Briar Cliff Manor, usually surrounded by other vets who once wore the same uniform he did. They trade stories, needle each other about which branch had it tougher, and sit together in the kind of quiet understanding only people who've served can share. Veterans are woven into the fabric of daily life at Briar — and Simon, at 102 years old, is one we get to celebrate today.

A Piece of Living History

Simon served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1945, deployed to England and France during World War II. Ask him what he remembers most, and he won't talk about the fighting — he'll talk about the day it ended. The moment his company learned the war was over, and they were finally going home. He still remembers the joy on every face around him that day, hardly able to believe they'd made it and were headed back to the people they loved.

It's the kind of moment that stays with a person for a lifetime — and it's exactly the kind of story that reminds us that freedom is not free.

Why Briar Sponsors the Geauga County Veterans Sport Fest

Simon is one of several veterans who call Briar home, and it's stories like his that led Ohman Family Living at Briar to become a proud sponsor of the Geauga County Veterans Sport Fest — a commitment we've now proudly upheld for five years running. We wanted Simon, and the other veterans in our community, to know how much their service and story means to us, not just in words but in action.

That commitment extends well beyond a single event. Briar works directly with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and holds a VA contract, allowing us to provide skilled nursing and post-acute care to veterans in Geauga County and beyond. Caring for those who served isn't a side project for us — it's part of who we are, and dates back to our foundation in caring for our first resident, Sergeant William P. Ohman.

A Simple Gesture Becomes a Community Celebration

This year, what started as a simple gesture of recognition for Simon turned into something none of us expected. As he was helped up on stage, the crowd quieted for just a moment. During his introduction, hundreds of voices broke into "Happy Birthday." Simon, a man who has spent a lifetime being modest about his service, sat there taking it in. Moments later, U.S. Congressman Dave Joyce stepped forward and personally presented Simon with an America250 commemorative coin, marking his service in a way that will stay with him — and with everyone who witnessed it — for years to come.

102-year-old WWII Army veteran Simon salutes the audience on stage at the Geauga Sport Fest as Congressman Dave Joyce presents him with an America250 coin.

It's easy to underestimate how much one person's story can move a room — until you watch an entire community rise for a single veteran. Recognition doesn't have to be grand to matter; sometimes the smallest gestures are the ones that bring people together the most. For Briar, celebrating life has more to do with celebrating the small moments that matter most.

Simon, thank you for your service — and for letting us share your story.