A World War II veteran from Manchester received a special honor from his favorite team, the Boston Celtics.Retired Lt. Col. Aurel Stuart is a decorated veteran with 35 years of service. Friday night, he was honored by the Celtics as a "Hero Among Us."His distinguished 35 years of service began at a young age."I joined in 1935," he said. "I was in high school."Stuart flew three missions on D-Day, providing critical support to Allied forces as they stormed the beaches of Normandy. Overall, he flew 32 missions in World War II as a lead bomber."I'm not a hero. I feel bad for those guys in the winter time. They were on the ground. I was up in the air. I was lucky," he said. "Saw a lot of planes go down in flames and a guy go down with a parachute."Stuart turned 100 years old last week and still lives on his own.He got picked up by the Celtics from his Manchester home before the game. Even though he was honored with a standing ovation from 18,000 fans, Stuart said before the game that he's no hero."It means the world to me. I can't believe it," he said. "I'm trying to get used to it. What am I going to say? I'm going to kid those guys up there. I said, 'You guys better win tonight, or I'm not coming back!'"The Celtics beat the Charlotte Hornets 90-87 Friday night for their 11th straight win.

A World War II veteran from Manchester received a special honor from his favorite team, the Boston Celtics.



Retired Lt. Col. Aurel Stuart is a decorated veteran with 35 years of service. Friday night, he was honored by the Celtics as a "Hero Among Us."


His distinguished 35 years of service began at a young age.

"I joined in 1935," he said. "I was in high school."



Stuart flew three missions on D-Day, providing critical support to Allied forces as they stormed the beaches of Normandy. Overall, he flew 32 missions in World War II as a lead bomber.

"I'm not a hero. I feel bad for those guys in the winter time. They were on the ground. I was up in the air. I was lucky," he said. "Saw a lot of planes go down in flames and a guy go down with a parachute."



Stuart turned 100 years old last week and still lives on his own.

He got picked up by the Celtics from his Manchester home before the game. Even though he was honored with a standing ovation from 18,000 fans, Stuart said before the game that he's no hero.

"It means the world to me. I can't believe it," he said. "I'm trying to get used to it. What am I going to say? I'm going to kid those guys up there. I said, 'You guys better win tonight, or I'm not coming back!'"

The Celtics beat the Charlotte Hornets 90-87 Friday night for their 11th straight win.