Illinois students surprised a 100-year-old veteran with a prom invitation after learning he missed the milestone when he left for military service in World War II.
More than 80 years after missing his high school prom because he was called to military service during World War II, a 100-year-old Illinois veteran finally got his chance to dance.
Ray Svejnoha attended prom this month with students from Metea Valley High School in Aurora, Illinois, after members of the school’s Tech Connect club learned he never got to attend his own prom.
Svejnoha told Naperville Community Television that when prom season arrived during his senior year, he had already been called to report for duty.
“During my younger age, I had a choice of going into the service, and I took two exams: one for the Navy and one for the Army Air Force,” Svejnoha told the outlet. “I didn’t have too much choice – I was supposed to report for duty.”
Students met Svejnoha through Tech Connect, a club that helps residents at Independence Village, a senior living community in Naperville, with technology and digital devices. The club aims to build relationships between students and older adults through conversation and technology assistance, according to Metea Media, the school’s student publication.
Club adviser Carey Peterson said the idea came after learning Svejnoha never had the chance to attend prom.
“That’s where my little lightbulb went on, and I thought, ‘I think we can help him out with that,'” Peterson told Naperville Community Television.
Students surprised Svejnoha with a prom invitation featuring patriotic decorations and a sign that said, “82 years late, but right on time.”
The community then helped prepare the veteran for the event with a haircut, manicure and tuxedo fitting, according to Naperville Community Television.
Svejnoha arrived at prom in a vintage trolley decorated with balloons and streamers before joining students on the dance floor to cheers from attendees.
“I cannot tell you how much I appreciate this, and I love you all,” Svejnoha said during the celebration, according to Naperville Community Television.
For Svejnoha, the long-awaited prom experience wasn’t so much the concept of making up for a missed milestone, and more about sharing a memorable night with a new generation.
“It never approached me that the prom was that important in my lifetime. But when they approached me about it, and the way they said it, why, them girls were more excited than I was,” Svejnoha told Naperville Community Television. “After I heard them, well, I was just about as excited, too, but it was so nice of them to even think about it.”
According to Metea Media, Svejnoha left school before graduation after receiving orders during World War II. He later served as an applied engineer after a depth-perception issue prevented him from becoming a pilot.
Peterson said the event was intended as a small gesture of gratitude for a veteran who sacrificed part of his youth to serve his country.
“We are so fortunate to have this opportunity to share with our students, modeling what it means to give back to someone who sacrificed their childhood for our country,” Peterson told Metea Media. “We deeply appreciate Ray and all of our United States veterans’ service.”