On Tuesday, December 17th, Lutheran Community at Telford resident and U.S. Army WWII Veteran Guido P. DiFrancesco turned 100 years old! The following Sunday, Guido’s family orchestrated a community-wide birthday party on campus, led by daughter Carol Opdyke and catered by our in-house culinary team, to honor and celebrate their loved one at this incredible milestone.
The celebration was attended by many of Guido’s family members, neighbors and friends as well as U.S. Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA 1st district), who issued a Congressional record on the House floor in DiFrancesco’s honor on his birthday. On Sunday, he presented the record to Guido along with a flag that had been flown over the nation’s capitol. You can click the button below to view a PDF of the full Extension of Remarks from Congressional Record #E1294 on December 17th, 2024, including an extensive biography of this incredible retired serviceman. Air Riders (Chapter 234) from the Souderton American Legion also came to thank and celebrate our guest of honor.
In his lifetime, Guido DiFrancesco was forced to leave high school during the Great Depression to support his family and was present on the fateful day that our 1st Infantry Division soldiers stormed Omaha Beach during the Invasion of Normandy, France, also known as D-Day. However, Guido never let life’s challenges define him as a person; he earned his high school diploma at 93 years old young, after retiring at 85! Among his many other accomplishments, Guido also proudly served our surrounding community as a dedicated member of the Warrington Township Lions Club. Despite whatever inspiring anecdotes we have learned about him during this experience, one thing is clear to everyone who knows (and loves!) Guido: he is living proof that ‘age is just a number,’ and it really is never too late!
“Guido embodies the resilience and courage of the Greatest Generation… [He] has lived a life of extraordinary service, hard work, and love. A devoted family man, he continues to inspire his children, 10 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren with his unwavering love, enduring strength and encouragement to serve others. Join me in wishing Guido a very happy birthday and thanking him for his service, sacrifice and example as a true American hero!” —Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA 1st)
Click here to read the full post by Congressman Fitzpatrick on his Facebook page (opens in a new window).
Guido’s incredible story also made regional news coverage shown at 6pm on Sunday evening (12/22/24):
6abc Action News
(Clipped at 20:30)
Guido resides in the Skilled Nursing (Healthcare) level of Lutheran Community at Telford’s continuum of care. Our wonderful team at Lutheran Community at Telford worked interdepartmentally to help Guido’s loving family plan and organize his birthday party in the Auditorium of our Center for Community Life. Our sincerest gratitude to all those involved who helped make this unforgettable event a success! [Additional photos to come.]
