98-year-old World War II veteran died day after Veterans Day

Veteran, 98, dons uniform in bed for salute hours before death
CBS News
November 14, 2014

GLENVILLE, N.Y. -- On Veterans Day, Justus Belfield donned his Army uniform one more time, even though he was too weak to leave his bed at an upstate New York nursing home.

The 98-year-old World War II veteran died the next day.

The Daily Gazette of Schenectady reports that Belfield had worn his uniform every Veterans Day since he and his wife moved into Baptist Health Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Glenville, outside Albany, several years ago.

On Tuesday, the former master sergeant wasn't able to get out of bed to participate in the facility's Veterans Day festivities, so he had the staff dress him in his uniform.

A photograph accompanying the newspaper's story published Friday shows Belfield saluting while lying in bed. The nursing home staff said he died early Wednesday morning.

CBS affiliate WRGB-TV reports that the staff at Baptist Health say Belfield was a charmer who loved life, right down to the horn on his walker that he would toot at everyone he passed.
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