World Conflict II veteran, web sensation 'Papa Jake' celebrates 102nd birthday

CONCORD, Calif. (KRON) – Friday marked a giant birthday immediately for a neighborhood World Conflict II veteran. “Papa Jake” is 102 years previous.

He’s a viral sensation on-line, identified for sharing tales of positivity. This yr, he acquired a whole lot of birthday playing cards from individuals in almost each nation internationally. 

Household and associates gathered for Jake Larson’s birthday celebration Friday night time in Harmony. 

“It’s arduous to imagine, to explain, as a result of I do not suppose I deserve all this,” he mentioned. 

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Papa Jake has almost 900,000 followers on TikTok. He went viral again in 2020 after his granddaughter McKaela began posting movies of him. Folks rapidly fell in love together with his tales.

“It went viral. Subsequent factor you understand individuals are like ‘We want videos of Papa Jake.’ The love that he receives, each quantity of it he really deserves it,” McKaela mentioned. 

The web fame has led Papa Jake to a variety of alternatives within the final 4 years, together with assembly two presidents and attending to discover Disneyland for the primary time. 

On Papa Jake’s 99th birthday, McKaela began asking social media followers to ship him birthday playing cards, and folks wrote him from everywhere in the world.

“A little bit farm boy from Hope, Minnesota identified everywhere in the world? I get correspondence with South Africa! It is loopy,” he mentioned. 

However this yr the response was record-breaking, with greater than 600 letters. And even on his birthday, he nonetheless pays tribute to fallen troopers.

“Keep in mind these guys who gave their lives so I may very well be right here and discuss to you,” he mentioned. 

McKaela goes to shock Papa Jake with the a whole lot of letters this weekend, so he’ll get to proceed celebrating. We are going to see which celebrities wrote him, then he’ll ship again thanks playing cards so individuals know the way a lot he appreciates their help.