There aren't many people who can say they lived through both world wars, but as Edward Miller turns 105 this weekend, he has seen a lot more than that.
Originally born in Port Henry B.C., Miller moved to Blenheim at the age of five and has called it home for the past century. Saturday marks his 105th birthday and the Second World War veteran has seen it all.
"I am certainly glad to be alive and to have seen all the changes, you know?" Miller said. "People aren't living the way they used to."
Miller was born in 1913, one year after the sinking of the Titanic. Miller received eight medals during his military career in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). He had three brothers and a sister who also served in the RCAF with three of the group serving overseas during the Second World War. All returned home.
Miller provided a transcript of the time he served and seemed to have a sense of humour about something so serious. He reminisced about his time on the troop ship travelling overseas and sleeping in rows of hundreds of hammocks.
"Everybody was warned not to eat too much because then it got rough, there was a lot of fellows getting sick," Miller said. "It wasn't very nice if you happened to be underneath the person that got seasick."
Miller served in England during the war from 1942 to 1945 and was posted with the # 405 Squadron 'Lancasters' in the Pathfinder Group. He was in charge of the maintenance hanger which, according to the Freedom Library and Museum in Blenheim, had the best service records in England.
Miller currently resides at the Blenheim Community Village Long Term Care Facility. He certainly didn't let something like being a century old slow him down. According to friends he still drove at 100-years-old and curled until 98.
"He's very active in getting out and going uptown to do his banking," John B. Kyle said. "He used to play cards the seniors centre every Friday until about a year ago. It is fantastic that he can still walk and his mind is still good, but he just doesn't run the quarter mile in 50 seconds anymore."
Kyle met Miller through work and both are members at the Freedom Library. Kyle organized a media day Friday to promote Miller's birthday. The big party will be Sunday at the Deer Run Golf Club. Miller will also have a banner honouring him on display on the light posts in downtown Blenheim. The banners were purchased through the Royal Canadian Legion and will hang for three years before being returned to the family.
