There’s no real secret to living to see 103! At least that’s what WWII Army Veteran Mr. Henry Ledford from Big Creek, Ky., says. Mr. Ledford celebrated his 103 birthday on September 22, 2022, surrounded by family and his dear friends from Bluegrass Hospice Care. Mr. Ledford gives all the credit to the Lord. 

“Without Him, we couldn’t do anything,” he said.

Ledford was born in 1919 and had four sisters and two brothers. He was married to the love of his life for 75 years before she passed in 2015. They had four children and enjoyed the love of family as they served their community, farming and gardening for many years.  After serving in WWII in Europe, he enjoyed working as an electrician and at the Red Bird Mission in Beverly, Ky.

Ledford took the WWII Honor Flight when he was 100. The Honor Flight is a nation-wide network dedicated to providing all veterans who apply a free trip to Washington, D.C., to visit memorials honoring their service. He still talks about that honor and proudly showed off his hat to those at his birthday celebration.



“I know my journey is about to end, but I enjoy every day and thank God for all He is doing for me, and I thank my hospice team for everything they do for me,” he said.