NewsMilitary

Actions

Watch: Runners spontaneously pay tribute to 95-year-old veteran during race

Posted at 3:57 PM, Mar 04, 2014
and last updated 2014-03-04 15:57:10-05

95-year-old WWII veteran Joe Bell received quite a surprise on Sunday when he put on his uniform to cheer on runners in the San Jose 408K Race.

The annual 8-kilometer race benefits the Pat Tillman Foundation, which invests in military veterans and their spouses through educational scholarships.

As Bell stood and cheered the runners one man broke off from the pack to shake Bell’s hand, then a parade of runners followed, each stopping to shake his hand and thank him for his service.

The touching encounter was recorded by Julia Prodis Sulek, a reporter for the San Jose Mercury News who lives on the same block as Bell.

Read more about what she saw at the San Jose Mercury News.