Community organizes parade for WWII veteran’s birthday

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – This coming Monday will mark WWII veteran Donald Pero’s 99th birthday, as the community came together to organize a parade in honor of him.

Pero’s daughter Anne Nowak says they were shocked when they learned about the parade only two days in advance.

Nowak says one of her aides for her father is related to the head of veteran’s outreach and spearheaded the whole thing.

Donald Pero is a Marine Corp veteran, and one of the last remaining people who fought in Iwo Jima.

“It’s pretty overwhelming, my dad is a very humble person. He has never wanted to be in the spotlight. He is the person who is giving and caretaking. He has never been one to get accolades or have it be about him,” Nowak said.

News 8 is told County Executive Adam Bello was also in attendance ahead of Pero’s birthday parade.

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