World War II veteran celebrates his 100th birthday, sharing his secret to a long life

Clayton Beisiegel said the secret to living a century is to lead an "honest" life.

Clayton Beisiegel said the secret to living a century is to lead an "honest" life.

<YOU'RE WATCHING NBC5 NEWS> BIG DAY TODAY. FOR A MILTON MAN AND WORLD WAR TWO VETERAN. CLAYTON BEISIEGEL <BE-SEE-GUL> TURNED 100. AND SHARED THE SECRET TO HIS LONGEVITY. NBC5'S SID BEWLAY WAS AT HIS BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION TODAY. <NAT POP - HAPPY BIRTHDAY UNCLE CLAY!!!> CLAYTON BEISIEGEL WAS BORN IN BUFFALO NEW YORK AND HE SAYS -- HE'S VERY LUCKY TO CELEBRATE A CENTURY OF LIFE, SURROUNDED BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS. <CLAYTON BEISIEGEL, 100 YEARS OLD; "WELL, I SAW A LOT OF THINGS IN MY LIFE, THAT'S FOR SURE."> BEISIEGEL SAYS -- HE HOPES THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS OF HIS FAMILY WILL LEAD A LIFE SIMILAR TO HIS. <CLAYTON BEISIEGEL, 100 YEARS OLD; "I HOPE THEY HAVE A GOOD LIFE AND LIVE AN HONEST LIFE AND ARE VERY GOOD WITH THEIR FAMILIES. "> <DON BEISIEGEL, CLAYTON'S SON; "GROWING UP, I COULDN'T ASK FOR A BETTER FATHER. HE WAS ALWAYS THERE AND VERY SUPPORTIVE."> CLAYTON'S FAMILY SAYS HIS LOVE OF MAKING THINGS WITH HIS HANDS, AND GOLFING, ARE PART OF WHAT'S KEPT HIM STRONG AND INDEPENDENT. <SHEILA BEISIEGEL, CLAYTON'S DAUGHTER- IN-LAY; "WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE THAT IS VERY AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH HIS SURROUNDINGS, WHICH IS VERY FORTUNATE FOR US. HE'S INDEPENDENT FOR THE MOST PART, HE JUST, YOU KNOW HE KEEPS ON GOING!"> <NAT - SMUCHERS JAR YOU'RE FAMOUS> CLAYTON IS ALSO A WORLD WAR TWO VETERAN WHO SERVED IN THE AIR FORCE. <DON BEISIEGEL, CLAYTON'S SON; "SERVING AS A WAITER IN AN OFFICER'S MESS IN ENGLAND AND HE GOT TO WAIT ON GLENN MILLER, WHICH AT THAT TIME, HE WAS THE BIG BAND LEADER."> CLAYTON'S SECRET FOR REACHNING ONE- HUNDRED AND 75 YEARS OF A HAPPY MARRIAGE IS TO LEAD AN HONEST LIFE. <CLAYTON BEISIEGEL, AND FRIENDS."> CLAYTON AND HIS FAMILY ARE EXCITED TO EXPERIENCE MORE OF VERMO

World War II veteran celebrates his 100th birthday, sharing his secret to a long life

Clayton Beisiegel said the secret to living a century is to lead an "honest" life.

Clayton Beisiegel, a World War II veteran living in Milton, Vermont, celebrated his 100th birthday on Wednesday. He was born in Buffalo, New York, on Feb. 22, 1923.Clayton said he's very lucky to celebrate a century of life surrounded by friends and family."I saw a lot of things in my life, that's for sure," Clayton said.He also hopes the younger generations of his family will lead lives similar to his."I hope they have a good life, and live an honest life, and are very good with their families," Clayton said.Clayton's son, Don Beisiegel, said he counts himself lucky too."Growing up, I couldn't ask for a better father," Don said. "He was always there and very supportive."Multiple members of Clayton's family told sister station WPTZ that his love of making things with his hands and golfing are part of what's kept him strong and independent for a century."We're very fortunate that is very aware of what's going on with his surroundings, which is fortunate for us," said Sheila Beisiegel, Don's wife. "He's independent for the most part, he just, you know, he keeps on going!" Clayton served in the Air Force during World War II." serving as a waiter in an Officer's mess in England and he got to wait on Glenn Miller, which at that time, he was the big band leader," said Don, adding that Clayton is always excited all over again when telling that story.His secret for reaching 100 and having 75 years of a happy marriage with his late wife, is to lead an honest life by "being honest to family and friends."

MILTON, Vt. —

Clayton Beisiegel, a World War II veteran living in Milton, Vermont, celebrated his 100th birthday on Wednesday.

He was born in Buffalo, New York, on Feb. 22, 1923.

Clayton said he's very lucky to celebrate a century of life surrounded by friends and family.

"I saw a lot of things in my life, that's for sure," Clayton said.

He also hopes the younger generations of his family will lead lives similar to his.

"I hope they have a good life, and live an honest life, and are very good with their families," Clayton said.

Clayton's son, Don Beisiegel, said he counts himself lucky too.

"Growing up, I couldn't ask for a better father," Don said. "He was always there and very supportive."

Multiple members of Clayton's family told sister station WPTZ that his love of making things with his hands and golfing are part of what's kept him strong and independent for a century.

"We're very fortunate that is very aware of what's going on with his surroundings, which is fortunate for us," said Sheila Beisiegel, Don's wife. "He's independent for the most part, he just, you know, he keeps on going!"

Clayton served in the Air Force during World War II.

"[He was] serving as a waiter in an Officer's mess in England and he got to wait on Glenn Miller, which at that time, he was the big band leader," said Don, adding that Clayton is always excited all over again when telling that story.

His secret for reaching 100 and having 75 years of a happy marriage with his late wife, is to lead an honest life by "being honest to family and friends."

��