LAKEWOOD - The flag he fought under in the biggest war the world has ever seen was draped over his casket in Calvary Lighthouse Church.

George B. Watson Sr., an original Tuskegee Airman and World War II veteran, was hailed as "a hero of our own" at a funeral service in his hometown.

Watson was 96 years old when he died on June 19. He was born in Wildwood, but moved to Lakewood with his family when he was young.

On Saturday, the community paid tribute to him. You can see some of the remarks from the service in the video below.

"He was an honorable man. We thank him for his dedication and the things he has done," said Minister Natalie Grace of Sixth Street Baptist Church in Lakewood.

“This is a celebration. Someone needs to say amen," Grace said. "This is a celebration, not a sad time."

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Watson volunteered for the U.S. Army in February of 1942 and was part of the first group of recruits sent to an all-black military base in Tuskegee, Alabama.

During his service in World War II, Watson primarily was stationed in Italy, where he served on the ground crew as a technical sergeant.

Watson was later awarded a Purple Heart, and the Tuskegee Airmen collectively were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007.

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And this past May, he was inducted into the Lakewood High School Athletic Hall of Fame, where he served as a quarterback on the football team, graduating in 1941.

Friends and family remembered Watson as a joyful man who took pride in his country, fighting not only for freedom abroad but for freedom at home during the civil rights movement. They said he'd tell his story to anyone who would listen.

You can view a video with the family sharing memories below.

His son, Maurice Watson, said he had a tender side, sticking up for him when he needed it and guiding him with words of wisdom. "He was Pop the Father, Pop the motivational speaker and mentor, and Pop the superhero," Maurice Watson said.

The Rev. Robert C. Morris of Sixth Street Baptist Church said Watson was a trailblazer for many others.

"George and his comrades had to serve in a situation under a country that did not see them as equals," Morris said. "There were great doubts about whether they could do the jobs the same way as their Caucasian counterparts," he said.

"It takes a special strength to be able to endure, but to excel in the midst of your hardships. He loved his country, the only color that mattered to him was the red, white and blue," Morris said.

Austin Bogues 732-643-4009; abogues@gannettnj.com.

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