WWII veteran and Wayne County native Winston Best turned 100 years old. The team at North Carolina State Veterans Home - Kinston helped his friends and family plan a safe birthday celebration for the veteran.

There were at least 10 cars and truckloads full of family members and friends to celebrate Mr. Best's 100th birthday. His great-nieces and nephew sang happy birthday from the back of one of the trucks. The team at NCSVH - Kinston served chocolate cupcakes (Mr. Best's favorite) to the family members as they drove by in their vehicles.

When asked how it feels to be 100, Mr. Best replied, “Just like it did to be 99!”

Mr. Best served in WWII in the Pacific. He was in the Navy and was a Medical Corpsman. He is a lifetime member of the Beston United Methodist Church and Mr. Winston was the Sunday School Teacher and the Sunday School Superintendent of his church. He is one of the founding members of the New Hope Ruritan Club. For 70 years, he has been a member and is the only surviving charter member.  He was in the first graduating class of New Hope School, class of 1937-1938. In 1946 he married Ruth Ellis Best. They were married for 60 years.  They had 2 children Donald and Margaret.