{"id":43917,"date":"2021-07-17T16:34:37","date_gmt":"2021-07-17T16:34:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2021\/07\/17\/ww-ii-veteran-celebrates-104th-birthday-in-virginia\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T07:13:34","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T07:13:34","slug":"ww-ii-veteran-celebrates-104th-birthday-in-virginia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/veterans\/2021\/07\/17\/ww-ii-veteran-celebrates-104th-birthday-in-virginia\/","title":{"rendered":"WW II veteran celebrates 104th birthday in Virginia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">CHESTERFIELD, Va. (AP) \u2014 Retired Lt. Col. Louis Frazier Martin\u2019s front lawn was packed with well-wishers to help him celebrate the centenarian\u2019s 104 birthday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On July 3, Martin\u2019s surprise party kicked off with a car caravan assembly spearheaded by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.umes.edu\/alumni\/\" target=\"_blank\">University of Maryland Eastern Shore National Alumni Association<\/a>. The procession paraded past Martin\u2019s Roosevelt Avenue residence near Virginia State University in Chesterfield County.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Martin who was told that he was going to a restaurant said, \u201cI didn\u2019t expect all this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sheila Martin Brown, proud being Martin\u2019s daughter, shared some words about her father.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI have been inspired by his example of service to the community,\u201d said Brown who resides with her dad. \u201cHe\u2019s a wonderfully strong family man. He\u2019s just always been a believer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brown stated that her dad has raised more money from individuals locally than she did while serving as a councilmember in Atlanta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is a special, special occasion,\u201d said friend Starrie Jordan of Ettrick. \u201cHe\u2019s been a model citizen for all of us in this community to follow. If I keep doing what he\u2019s doing, maybe I can make it to 104.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to Jordan, Martin walks every morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe has a lot of determination,\u201d added Jordan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI hope I inherited whatever Dad is made out of,\u201d said Brown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe has meant so much to our community here as you can see by the turnout.\u201d said neighbor and friend Anna Bradley who invited The Progress-Index to attend Martin\u2019s celebration. \u201cThere are numerous groups here to honor him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The event was attended by his loving daughter, family, friends, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/WestminsterPCpetersburgva\/\" target=\"_blank\">Westminster Presbyterian Church<\/a> (Petersburg) members, neighbors, <a href=\"https:\/\/phibetasigma1914.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity<\/a> members, University of Maryland Eastern Shore (formerly Princess Anne College) Alumni, and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Betty Berry who has known Martin since 1968 expressed how Martin and his late wife Mariah were like family and always good to her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe\u2019s like a brother to me,\u201d said Berry who gave Martin his first kiss of the day&#8230;on the cheek. \u201cI\u2019ll be 89 in August; I\u2019m the second oldest woman at our church.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On behalf of the U.S. Army and the Vietnam Veterans who honor all of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/education-transition\/2021\/03\/19\/want-to-know-more-about-ww-ii-check-out-this-virtual-conference\/\" target=\"_blank\">WWII veterans<\/a>, Sgt. Albert W. Cooks (Vietnam Veteran 69\/70, UMES Alumnus, Class of 1967) presented Martin with the following Army memorabilia: WWII medallion, face masks, WWII hat, and coffee mug.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A guest from the crowd shouted, \u201cHe likes black coffee&#8230;no sugar, no cream.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019re so proud that he\u2019s here at 104,\u201d said Cooks who saluted Martin. \u201cLieutenant Colonels&#8230;guess what? In those days, he wasn\u2019t respected, but I tell you one thing&#8230;he\u2019s getting the respect today.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"218\" height=\"246\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/BlackVet2.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-80126\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">WWII Army veteran Louis F. Martin&#8217;s receives a proclamation from Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. during his 104 birthday celebration in Chesterfield, Va., on July 3, 2021.  (Kristi K. Higgins\/The Progress-Index via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>Martin receives a proclamation<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Eastern Region Director of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. J. R. Reeves presented Martin with a proclamation that included the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WHEREAS, Retired Lt. Col. Louis F. Martin was born on July 3, 1917, in Princess Anne on Maryland\u2019s Eastern Shore, a fraternal twin, were the eldest of 12 siblings, six of whom have since passed away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WHEREAS, the former Army logistician and Colonial Heights resident overcame tough life-changing obstacles like the lack of educational opportunities for African-Americans of the early 20th century, the Great Depression and the segregation of colored troops serving their country during World War II.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WHEREAS, in 1935, Lt. Col. Martin found his way into a five-year work-study program at his parents\u2019 alma mater, Virginia\u2019s Hampton Institute. Like his father, he chose agriculture &#8211; one of the few college majors available to black male students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WHEREAS, in 1936, Lt. Col. Martin along with his brother Walter decided to transfer to a college near home so they could finish their education and make it possible for their younger siblings to have the same opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WHEREAS, on May 14, 1939 on the campus of Princess Anne College, in Princess Anne, Maryland, Lt. Col. Martin became a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Mu Chapter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WHEREAS, in March of 1941, at age 23, was drafted. It started a lineage of military service in his family. All five of his younger brothers eventually joined various branches of the armed forces. His twin sister Lourene completed a 22-year hitch as an Army nurse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WHEREAS, his career spanned decades, taking him from military service to earning a Master\u2019s degree, to marrying the love of his life where they were blessed to birth a lovely daughter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>The oldest<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is our oldest living member in the entire fraternity,\u201d announced Chris Reyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Martin also received an official honorary UMES Southeastern Virginia Alumni Chapter life membership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Martin overcame tough life-changing obstacles like the lack of educational opportunities for African-Americans of the early 20th century, the Great Depression, and the segregation of colored troops serving their country during World War II.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, it\u2019s not those types of moments he chooses to dwell on. The spry centenarian focuses on the positive things he can do for his community. At 104, Martin continues to provide leadership in Chesterfield County as an election official.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNegative thinking does not move you forward. I don\u2019t feel like anybody owes me anything. Over my lifetime I took advantage of every opportunity I could. I worked hard, slept well, and ate and drank in moderation,\u201d Martin stated to Lesley Atkinson with Fort Lee Public Affairs in a 2016 P-I story. \u201cI followed my parents in their religious beliefs. My father built a cubicle under the step for his Bible study. He took the family to church and sang in the choir. He was a leader at home and in his profession. I can\u2019t sing, but I never miss church or Bible study. I like to think I\u2019m a reflection of my dad.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After 29 years, Martin retired from the U.S. Army Reserves, and he was employed as an associate professor of horticulture and extension specialist at VSU until he retired in 1982.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Family and friends celebrate the 104th birthday of WWII veteran Retired Lt. Col. Louis Frazier Martin.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":80124,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":19,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[101,8,23,89,12,26,19],"tags":[],"coauthors":[6207],"class_list":["post-43917","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-flashpoints","category-home","category-middle-column","category-news","category-newsletters","category-veterans"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"AJMPVM6A7FDOXCD2W4MIW7XRDM","arc_canonical_url":"\/veterans\/2021\/07\/17\/ww-ii-veteran-celebrates-104th-birthday-in-virginia\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>WW II veteran celebrates 104th birthday in Virginia - Navy Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Family and friends celebrate the 104th birthday of WWII veteran Retired Lt. 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