100 served: Clinton Burns’ 100th birthday celebrated with parade, free McDonald”s burgers
DUNNELLON – Family, friends and residents turned out Saturday to mark the 100th birthday of World War II veteran and beloved resident Clinton C. Burns.
The event was even featured on the Dunnellon McDonald’s sign: “Mr. Burns’ Birthday Bash 12-31.”
Burns, who was born on Jan. 2, 1922, usually frequents the McDonald’s twice a day and has regular visitors at his table, restaurant employee Kathy Ciaramella said.
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General Manager Stacy Farr, who marched in the birthday parade through downtown, said the restaurant would give away 100 free hamburgers in Burns’ honor.
A parade and a gathering of well-wishers
Burns – who said he still does lawn maintenance at the local train depot – looked spry and fit as he smiled and greeted people arriving at Dunnellon City Hall for the parade Saturday morning.
About 25 well-wishers paraded one mile north on U.S. 41 from City Hall to McDonald’s. They followed a golf cart-like vehicle, dubbed “the Popemobile,” in which Burns rode with Dunnellon Police Chief Mike McQuaig.
A number of people gathered along the highway, waving and holding “Happy Birthday” signs.
“I feel great. The Lord has blessed me,” Burns said.
The marchers were met at the McDonalds’s parking lot by another group of perhaps 50 well-wishers and an honor guard from American Legion Post 58 in Dunnellon.
Burns shook hands with the honor guard members including Bill Samardak, a fellow WWII veteran who served in the Pacific.
Mayor: Clinton Burns is a ‘living, walking legend’
Dunnellon Mayor Bill White called Burns a “living, walking legend” and a source of history.
White read aloud a City of Dunnellon proclamation, which stated that Burns was born nearby and moved to Dunnellon with his family around age 4. He attended Booker T. Washington High School.
Burns joined the Army in 1942 in spite of having been denied the “full benefits of American citizenship,” including the right to vote. He endured segregation and Jim Crow laws even after being awarded five campaign medals and serving as a Technician 5th Grade, the proclamation stated.
Burns shipped to Europe during WW II, landed at Normandy, served in the Third Army 364th Engineer Combat Regiment under General George S. Patton and served in the Red Ball Express, the proclamation stated.
The Red Ball Express was a special express convoy, made up of mostly African American soldiers. It delivered supplies to the front lines to support the American drive across Europe during WWII.
“Nothing stopped the Red Ball Express,” Burns said Saturday.
The proclamation indicated he served in Normandy, Cherbourg, Aachen and the Battle of the Bulge.
Clinton Burns had many jobs after his military service ended
After returning from the war, Burns worked on the Cross Florida Barge Canal lock, in phosphate mining, and hauled pulp wood. He also worked with Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and Florida Power Corp., the proclamation stated.
In 1950 he married Idella Coston and the couple were married 63 years, according to the proclamation. Idella Burns died in 2013, the proclamation stated.
The couple have eight children: Lois (Burns) Delfius, Reginald Burns, Linton Burns, Althea (Burns) Myers, Christine Burns, Mavis Burns, Clinton Burns Jr. and Daryl Burns.
Clinton Burns is a deacon and longtime member of Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church and is a guest singer at many local churches. He also is an honorary police officer with the Dunnellon Police Department, according to the proclamation.
Burns was honored for “(a) life well lived with dedication and service to his family, his country and the people of Dunnellon” and he has “earned the respect” of the community, the proclamation stated.
Mike Parker, who once interviewed Burns for a Library of Congress record of his military service, called Burns a “phenomenal man” who served in the U.S. military during a time of segregation and also endured racism.
“Mr. Burns never said a bad thing about his country. He let (racism and segregation) run off his shoulders,” Parker said at the celebration.
Many relatives were in town for the celebration
Lois Delifus, Burns’ daughter visiting from the Austin, Texas area, said her father was “always positive and enthusiastic,” even in the face of racism.
Delifus was accompanied by her daughter Nina Delfius-Jones, 51, who called her grandfather “amazing.”
Dunnellon Councilwoman Anita Williams said Clinton Burns is a “very nice man, a Christian.”
Clinton Burns’ granddaughter Mia Burns,13, came to march in the parade and family friends Leo Thomas, Christine Avina and Vietnam War veteran Ernest Mills joined the celebration.
“We are blessed,” Reginald Burns, 62, said about his father’s good health at 100 years of age.
Caleb Myers, 27, Clinton Burns’ grandson, said his grandfather is a “cool guy.”
Ruff Pennington with American Legion Post 58 in Dunnellon said Clinton Burns was wounded in WWII but due to conditions he did not receive a Purple Heart award.
The post has pursued obtaining the medal for Clinton Burns and members presented Clinton Burns with a “Purple Heart/combat wounded” cap at the celebration.
Leroy Thomas, who stood with a group of well-wishers holding signs and a large American flag in front of McDonald’s, summed up what many expressed during the celebration.
“Clinton Burns is a friend to everyone,” Thomas said.