Gertrude Leblanc, a World War II Army nurse veteran celebrated her 100th birthday at the Freedom Museum in Manassas, Va. on Monday.
Leblanc is humble.
“Good gracious," Leblanc said. "I didn’t know all of this was going to be happening."
The Manassas woman will tell you, Monday was overwhelming as family, friends, leaders and the Freedom Museum surprised her with a big party.
“About the same as 99," Leblanc said. "Overwhelmed, they just told me they would pick me up around 1 and I didn’t know where or why so here I am."
Leblanc joined the Army as an Army Corp nurse before deploying during WWII to Saipan.
“Not very pleasant," Leblanc said. "We had some tough cases."
She decided to join the army after a movie experience in the 1940s.
“We saw pictures of the war and that they needed nurses," Leblanc said. "I walked outside and saw a statue of Uncle Sam saying 'we need you' or something like that."
On Monday, she celebrated her birthday in the museum alongside the Manassas mayor and her great-grandchildren.
She lives alone and loves reading books.
“Just do what you're supposed to do and be good to people,” Leblanc said.