It was a privilege and honor to be with some of my colleagues from The Jesse C. Lynch Memorial American Legion Post 71 of North Augusta, to participate in the historic celebration of Dr. Watson's 100th birthday.

This is a major milestone in life that many of us will never reach, but Dr. Watson has reached the "century point," and is still going strong.

Dr. Watson is indeed very special to many people whose lives he has touched.

Many of those gathered Friday for a reception in Dr. Watson's honor had the privilege of having Dr. Watson deliver their children and even their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. During his long and brilliant career, he has delivered more than 15,000 babies and is recognized as the oldest practicing physician in the United States.

However, there is another reason for us to honor Dr. Watson, and that is that "he is one of us." After leaving active military service and returning back home to this area, Dr. Watson joined our Post 71 on July 1, 1948, and has been a continuing member for 62 years. He is not only our oldest member, but he is among a very few elite members of Post 71 who have more than 60 years of continuous Legion membership. There are 2.6 million members of the American Legion, but there are fewer than 500 members who are 100 years or older. The oldest member of the American Legion is 111 years old, and he resides here in South Carolina. We expect to see Dr. Watson reach that age and set even more records of accomplishment.

Dr. Watson is the epitome of the American Legion ideals of love of God, country, family and community. He continues to be very active in all of these aspects, and that makes him one of the great "pillars" of not only the greater Augusta area, but also the entire state and nation.

The year Dr. Watson joined Post 71 -- 1948 -- was also the same year our current Post 71 Home was built here in North Augusta. We are still meeting in that original building, but unlike Dr. Watson who continues to "keep on going strong," our Post building has worn out, and we are in dire need of a new and larger Post Home. We are in the midst of a major fundraising campaign now to replace our current Post Home, and we look forward to having Dr. Watson around to help us christen our new building when it is completed.

Dr. Watson, you have been a great inspiration and role model for many people, including the members of Post 71; and on behalf of the 416 members of North Augusta's Post 71, we are presenting you with an "American Legion Certificate of Appreciation" for your many years of membership in Post 71. We also want to present you special "American Legion Challenge Coins"; and lastly, we want to wish you a very Happy 100th birthday, and we hope you have many more birthdays. May God continue to bless you and your family. Thanks for your service!

(The above remarks were presented at a Special Ceremony at North Augusta's Arts and Heritage Center on Friday, Feb 26, in honor of Dr. W.G. Watson's 100th birthday.)

Bob Ramsey is the commander of the Jesse C. Lynch Memorial American Legion Post 71.