We can all probably agree that being a 104-year-old veteran has earned Ray Chavez the right to rest. Despite this, the oldest-known Pearl Harbor survivor has been hitting the gym for three years to be able to make a very special trip.
His trainer, Sean Thompson, clearly enjoys working with the determined veteran, who has gained a whopping 20 lbs. of muscle over the three years they have worked together.
In fact, Chavez has been an inspiration to other gym-goers. "When [other clients] say 'I'm too old to do this or that,' I say, 'Look at Ray!'" the trainer said. "That excuse doesn't fly anymore."
While using the weights, Thompson asks, "Do you have your Hawaiian shirts all ready, Ray?" To which the vet answers, "Oh yeah!"
Chavez's bulking up was essential for him to be able to make the six-hour trip to Pearl Harbor for the 75th anniversary of the attack.
The commemoration is important for Chavez, who explains the event that took place on December 7, 1941. "I got very emotional that day. There were so many innocent people that were lost," he said.
Thanks to some help from Chavez's gym and Alaska Airlines, the vet got a first-class ticket and was greeted in Hawaii enthusiastically by fellow military personnel. He also sported the aforementioned Hawaiian shirt, along with the many leis placed around his neck.
Chavez is a symbol of an event that changed both the course of World War II and American history in general. His standing strong throughout all of these years is also a metaphor for the nation he served and continues to love so much.
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