St. Andrew School first-grader Layla Leuthy Peck helped make the 100th birthday of her friend, veteran Joseph Gagliardi of Newtown, extra special, writes Peg Quann for the Bucks County Courier Times.

The girl asked her classmates to write birthday cards for Gagliardi, which were then delivered to him by the Newtown Fire Association escorted by township police.

In his younger days, Gagliardi visited local elementary schools to talk about his military service. The veteran served in the Navy on a PT Boat during World War II. His boat escorted General Douglas MacArthur. He also saw President John F. Kennedy who was assigned to PT duty.

Layla and the veteran met when she visited the home of Gagliardi’s daughter Nancy Thomas with her grandmother, nurse Nancy Webster. The veteran has been living with his daughter’s family since he had a heart attack in June.

“She’s developed a special bond with him,” said Webster. She has “frequently visited Joe and found ways to help him recover, including making cards, entertaining, exercises, singing, dancing, and applying lotion to his dry skin.”

Read more about how the community honored Joseph Gagliardi’s milestone birthday in the Bucks County Courier Times.

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