CANTON — The town of Canton celebrated Canton resident Bernard Adams’ 100th birthday Friday at Pinnacle Health and Rehab in Canton, along with residents and employees of the facility and a few other unexpected guests — a calf, a few clucking chickens, a crowing rooster and a goat.

Since Adams was a farmer in the community, the Activities Department at the facility thought “Bernard’s Barnyard Birthday” was an appropriate theme for his 100th birthday party.

Tim Gallant, a staff member for U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin, honored Adams by presenting him with an American flag and telling him that a flag was also being flown over the state capital in honor of his birthday.

“Please accept my great gratitude for your service to our nation as a proud member of the United States Army,” Gallant said. “We are forever appreciative and humbled by your heroism and selflessness that you have shown to your country during World War II.”

Adams served 25 months overseas in the European Theater of Operations — in Normandy in northern France on June 7, 1944, and later on in Rhineland, Germany.

Canton Selectman Don Hutchins told the crowd that Adams “is a member of the greatest generation that’ll ever walk the planet.”

“I don’t think there will ever be another generation as great as that generation,” Hutchins said.

He also thanked Adams for being a farmer and serving the town in various positions.

Joan Kneeland, Adams’ daughter, said, “I’m proud that he was able to serve this country and was able to come home, because so many don’t get home today. Even though he was wounded, he got to come home. He really was a good dad.”

“I want to thank everyone; I never expected (this party),” Adams said to everyone gathered at the facility to honor him.

mhutchinson@sunmediagroup.net

World War II veteran Bernard Adams’ celebrated his 100th birthday on Friday with family members, residents from Canton and employees and residents at Pinnacle Health and Rehab in Canton. His party theme was “Bernard’s Barnyard Birthday” because he was a farmer in the community. Activities Assistant Joy Hodgson holds the calf brought in for the festivities.