Behind the Badge
Those who have birthdays during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic are finding new ways to celebrate.
Anaheim’s oldest resident, Elmer Thill, turned 106 on Sunday, April 19, and Anaheim Fire & Rescue, along with the Anaheim Police Department, participated in a birthday drive-by parade to celebrate.
Thill, who survived the Spanish flu pandemic in 1918, sat on his porch wearing a derby hat that once belonged to his father.
APD squad cars, friends, neighbors, and an AF&R fire truck drove past Thill’s home honking and waving at him with lights and sirens on.
Anaheim PD Motor Officers lead a parade of APD patrol cars and an AF&R fire truck to wish Elmer Thill a happy 106th birthday.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
“The fire (truck) and everything is here — I mean, the whole town came out!” Thill said. “I appreciate it very much. It’s a beautiful day. Not many people have this opportunity. Of course, not everybody gets to be 106 either, so this is really wonderful.”
Thill wasn’t the only one who was got a surprise Sunday. He shocked the birthday parade spectators as he played a song on his clarinet.
Neighbors and friends safely joined the celebration by standing across the street from Thill’s house holding homemade signs for him.
“Elmer was our president of the Rotary Club decades ago and he still comes to our past presidents’ meeting every year,” Rotary Club Past President Adam England said. “He is not only a fantastic guy, but he is also the embodiment of Rotary. He is always giving service above self and he is just a real sweetheart.”
Thill invited everyone to drive by again next year.
An Anaheim Fire & Rescue’s Truck 1 drives by the home of Elmer Thill to wish him a happy 106th birthday.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Elmer Thill holds on to his clarinet as he tips his derby, that once belonged to his father, to friends driving by to wish him happy 106th birthday.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Friends of Elmer Thill drive by his home in a parade of decorated cars to wish him a happy 106th birthday.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Anaheim PD patrol cars drive by the home of Elmer Thill in a parade to wish him a happy birthday.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Megan Carringer getting ready to visit Elmer Thill’s home to wish him a 106th birthday.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Adam England of Anaheim Rotary and friend of Elmer Thill’s drives by Thill’s home to wish him a 106th birthday.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Elmer Thill plays Happy Birthday on his clarinet from his front porch during a parade in his honor.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Anaheim Police Chief Jorge Cisneros drives by the home of Elmer Thill to wish him a 106th birthday.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Friends of Elmer Thill drive by his home in a parade of decorated cars to wish him a happy 106th birthday.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Elmer Thill waves to friends from his front porch as they wish him a happy 106th birthday.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Elmer Thill sits on his front porch as neighbors celebrate his 106th birthday.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Neighbors of Elmer Thill wish him a happy 106th birthday from the social distance of across the street as Anaheim patrol cars and an AF&R fire truck drive by in a parade to honor him.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Friends of Elmer Thill drive by his home in a parade of decorated cars to wish him a happy 106th birthday.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Anaheim Mayor Pro Tem Stephen Faessel presents Elmer Thill with a city proclamation for his 106th birthday.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
