World War II and U.S. Army veteran Herb Maneloveg was honored for his 101st birthday at Disney World’s daily Flag Retreat ceremony Jan. 25 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Courtesy of Disney)
The ‘happiest place on earth’ just got even more magical for one guest celebrating his birthday.
Walt Disney World Resort celebrated World War II veteran Herb Maneloveg’s 101st birthday during a special flag retreat ceremony at the park’s Magic Kingdom on January 25 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
US theme parks targeting families and new investments to win back cash-strapped consumers
The celebration started for Maneloveg and his family with a trip down Magic Kingdom’s Main Street and a stop to see Cinderella Castle. This was followed by a special viewing of the Festival of Fantasy Parade.
The parade featured beloved characters such as Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse.
Maneloveg expressed his joy and gratitude for the special celebration, saying, “It’s all I could ask for.”
World War II and U.S. Army veteran Herb Maneloveg celebrates his 101st birthday with his children and grandchild in front of Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. (Disney)
“It’s a wish better than any wish I’ve ever had,” Maneloveg said after seeing the parade. “For me, family is the most important thing, and they are here.”
Maneloveg served as a soldier in the U.S. Army’s 106th Infantry Division during the Battle of the Bulge. He was wounded in battle and later received the Purple Heart.
‘I was employed [for] two years, two months [and] two days,” Maneloveg told Disney Parks in a post on Instagram.
A ROAM OF HEROES: DISNEY KEEPS ITS LONG TIES WITH AMERICA’S VETERANS ALIVE
“When we were 18, I was at Penn State and we were sent to a military camp, Fort McClellan [in Alabama]. We had 13 weeks of basic training until D-Day and on D-Day everything changed,” Maneloveg continued in the post.
Members of Maneloveg’s family, who attended, expressed their gratitude for the celebration.
“My dad is a great guy, he was a military man, but he was also a great father, husband and grandfather,” said his daughter Susan Maneloveg. “Thanks to Disney and how they honored him. The parade was great, he got everyone’s attention, which was so sweet.”
Herb Maneloveg greets Pinocchio during the Festival of Fantasy Parade at Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort. (Disney)
According to the Disney Parks Blog, the American flag is retired daily. The park says it is a “patriotic and reflective moment.”
“[Retiring the flag] has an even deeper meaning as we pay tribute to the courage and sacrifices of veterans like [Maneloveg]” said Cappy Surette, senior manager for communications with the Disney Experiences Corporate Social Responsibility team.
DISNEY continues the tradition of honoring the U.S. military with patriotic celebrations
Surette said Disney’s admiration for American military veterans, service members and their families began with Walt and Roy O. Disney, both of whom served the country during World War I.
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIS | THE WALT DISNEY CO. | 112.80 | +1.26 |
+1.13% |
Walt Disney served in the Red Cross Ambulance Corps. He and his friend Russell Maas then received uniforms and reported to Camp Scott, a temporary encampment in a burned-out amusement park near the University of Chicago, according to the Walt Disney Family Museum.
After coming down with the flu, Disney joined another company waiting to be transported to France. Despite the end of the war, the company sent fifty men, including Disney, to assist with the occupation, according to the museum.
Herb Maneloveg celebrates his 101st birthday in front of Cinderella Castle at the Walt Disney World Resort. (Disney)
The Magic Kingdom has hosted daily flag ceremonies since 1955, and at Disneyland since 1971, to honor veterans and service members.
Each day, a guest will be chosen from the park’s daily visitors to serve as the park’s “US Armed Forces Representative of the Day” during the ceremony.
“The only thing I could ask is if my wife, who died 20 years ago, would still be with us,” Maneloveg said. “But [my family] made her and I proud to be here.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT FOX BUSINESS
Ahead of America’s 250th anniversary, Disney World reaffirmed its commitment to honoring those who have served.
“Not only were we witnessing a ceremony, but we were witnessing history,” Surette said. ‘We were honored to salute [Maneloveg] and pay tribute to his military service to our nation.”
