Walt Disney World Honors World War II Veteran Herb Maneloveg on His 101st Birthday
Walt Disney World Resort celebrated World War II veteran Herb Maneloveg on his 101st birthday with a special Flag Retreat ceremony at Magic Kingdom Park and a private viewing of the Festival of Fantasy Parade on January 25. Herb served as a Private in the U.S. Army's 106th Infantry Division during the Battle of the Bulge, where he was wounded and received the Purple Heart. The celebration honored a living piece of American history and underscored Disney's decades-long tradition of saluting military veterans at the daily Flag Retreat.
Walt Disney World Resort honored World War II veteran Herb Maneloveg on his 101st birthday during a special Flag Retreat ceremony at Magic Kingdom Park on January 25. Herb served as a Private in the U.S. Army's 106th Infantry Division during the Battle of the Bulge, where he was wounded and later received the Purple Heart. The birthday celebration included a procession down Main Street U.S.A., a viewing of the Festival of Fantasy Parade, and the moving evening flag ceremony alongside his family.
Key Details
- Honored Veteran: Herb Maneloveg, 101 years old, Private — U.S. Army 106th Infantry Division
- Service: World War II, Battle of the Bulge; recipient of the Purple Heart
- Celebration: January 25, Magic Kingdom Park, Walt Disney World Resort
- Highlight: Special Flag Retreat ceremony and Festival of Fantasy Parade viewing
- Daily Tradition: Flag Retreat ceremonies have honored veterans at Disneyland since 1955, Magic Kingdom since 1971
- Daily Honor: One guest is chosen as "U.S. Armed Forces Representative of the Day" at Magic Kingdom each sunset
A Hero's Birthday on Main Street U.S.A.
Herb Maneloveg's 101st birthday began with a journey down Main Street U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom, where he and his family took in the sight of Cinderella Castle before a special viewing of the Festival of Fantasy Parade — featuring beloved Disney characters including Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. "It's a wish that is better than any wish I've ever had," Herb said after watching the parade. "To me, the important thing is family and they are here. It's all I could ask for."
Herb's daughter Susan reflected on the moment: "My father is a great guy — he was a serviceman, but he was also a great father, husband, and grandfather. Thanks to Disney and how they honored him. The parade was great, he got attention from everybody, which was so sweet."
The Flag Retreat: A Patriotic Daily Tradition
The Flag Retreat ceremony at Magic Kingdom takes place each evening as the American flag is retired for the day — a tradition carried out with reverence and gratitude for those who have served the country. For Herb, this ceremony carried the weight of his own history: a survivor of the Battle of the Bulge, one of the deadliest and most pivotal battles of World War II, who received the Purple Heart for injuries sustained there.
As the ceremony unfolded, the moment became as much historical as celebratory — a salute to one of the last living witnesses to that era of sacrifice. "Not only did we witness a ceremony, but we witnessed history," the Walt Disney World team noted.
Creating Magic for America's Heroes
Daily flag ceremonies have honored U.S. veterans and service members at Disneyland since 1955 and Magic Kingdom since 1971. At Magic Kingdom, one guest is chosen each day as the "U.S. Armed Forces Representative of the Day" to participate in the sunset ceremony. Disney's admiration for military veterans, service members, and their families carries on a legacy rooted in Walt and Roy O. Disney, who both served during World War I.
As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, Disney remains committed to sharing the stories of service members, veterans, and their families. Herb Maneloveg's 101st birthday at Magic Kingdom Park stands as a fitting tribute to that enduring tradition — a reminder that the greatest stories of American courage belong not just to history, but to people still here to share them.
