Grace Jackson has officially entered the prestigious centenarian club, with dozens of people gathering at Greystone Manor on Wednesday to help the now 100-year-old celebrate the major milestone.

Included amongst the cohort of partygoers were Royal Canadian Legion members Don Purdy and John Vanderelst, who were there to honour their fellow veteran on her special day.

Although she's been a resident of Greystone Manor for 12 years now, Jackson spent her younger years in many different provinces, having grown up in Moose Jaw, Sask. before enlisting in the Royal Canadian Air Force and shipping off to Ottawa for her basic training at 19 years old.

Upon graduation, she was stationed out at Boundary Bay, B.C., where she worked as a wireless operator, sending coded messages to the pilots so they could interpret messages while flying over Germany.

Her time with the Air Force was short, with the Second World War ending in 1945, but she was following in the footsteps of her family, with her dad serving in both the World Wars, and her brother and sister also joining the Air Force. 

Now nearly 80 years removed from the war, Jackson still has vivid memories of those times and was honoured to have two members of the Maple Ridge branch of the Royal Canadian Legion join her birthday celebration.

Her cousins also travelled to the Maple Ridge seniors home for the party, with everyone enjoying some cake, listening to some live piano tunes, and being regaled with a brief summary of Jackson's life.

I was honoured to witness this vereran enter the centenarian club

Jackson had a smile on her face all throughout the afternoon, explaining that although she's considered herself as old for quite some time now, she was happy to reach this major milestone.

"It feels pretty good," said Jackson.

When asked what her advice would be to the younger generation, her response was simple.

"Be good kids, obey your parents, and serve your country."