Manassas vet receives birthday greetings from The White House

July 22 was a very special day in the life of Archie Schiff of Manassas, a World War II vet.

He celebrated a birthday few people ever do-105 of them.

Schiff lived his entire life in Pottsville, Pa. until he was 103.

He moved in with his daughter, Susan Murphy in September 2014 after falling, breaking a pelvic bone and coming out of rehab.

A brother who passed in 2013 at the age of 95 and Schiff lived in the same city and helped take care of each other.

Schiff has received many congratulations for this year’s big occasion, including one from the White House.

In a letter, the Obamas wrote “Happy 105th birthday. We are delighted to send our warmest wishes as you celebrate this special occasion and thank you for your service and sacrifice.”

A picture of theObama Family with daughters and pet dogs was included and Schiff plans to have it framed.

Schiff believes cultivating a happy disposition is the secret of his long live.

“If you show anxiety, depression, worry or hate someone or something, your body immediately manufactures poison into your system. The big word here is adjust. You must adjust your life to whatever life throws at you,” he said.

A healthy diet is also a must. “Eat anything that grows on a tree, vine or a plant or anything from the earth. Nature is the healer. Everything you eat or drink has a chemical in it, except fruit, vegetables, fish or nuts. Also, do some type of physical activity daily, even it is only standing or walking,” he advised.

Schiff was in the Army Air Corps during the war in the Burma-India-China theater. He worked in the office and did the scheduling of when planes needed maintenance after doing sorties. He also wrote a news and humor newsletter for the troops to keep then entertained although he had to be careful what he wrote about.

He was known as “Old Eagle Eye” because he was the first to spot the mistakes in the maintenance schedules for the planes that went out on missions.

After the war, Schiff owned and managed a window cleaning company.

He loved playing baseball and said if he had one regret in life was that he never made it to the major leagues because he had to help his father run his business.

“My father used to enjoy reading the newspaper and doing the Jumble puzzles, but his eyes aren’t very good for that now.  He does enjoy watching baseball and game shows on television,” Murphy said.

Deal or No Deal is his favorite television show.

He was married in1949 and remained so until his wife’s death in 2009. He has two children, a son Larry Schiff, who lives in Texas and his daughter Susan. He has one granddaughter, Elena.

He has good genes as his mother lived to 101 and he still has a 95-year-old sister who is living.

Schiff stays away from cookies, cakes, pies and ice cream but he broke away from his “no sweets or sugary items” to have a cupcake on his 105th birthday.

“It’s okay only on your birthday,” he concluded.

He will be presented with a U. S. Flag that flew over the U. S. Capitol and a special gathering will be held in his honor next month at Manassas City Hall.