A 99-year-old Arkansas veteran is finally being given the recognition that he deserves after he served his country in the Korean War and as a Tuskegee Airman in World War II.

On August 21, Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Franklin Vaughns was honored in a special ceremony at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, where he was given a medal. In addition, Pine Bluff Mayor Shirley Washington declared August 21 to be Thomas Franklin Vaughns Day.

“We challenge every citizen in the city of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, to learn at least two lessons from the life of Thomas Franklin Vaughns,” Washington said. “One is [that] life is about serving others without expecting anything in return. That’s what Mr. Thomas Franklin Vaughns has done for us. Nugget number two is our communities are strongest when we honor our civic duty to be involved.”

Ark. Sen. John Boozman attended the ceremony and presented Vaughns with the National Defense Service Medal and replacements for four medals the veteran lost: the World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII and the Good Conduct Medal, according to the Commercial.

After his time in the military, Vaughns began a career in education, did volunteer work and mentored several 4-H Club members. Many of the people he mentored attended the ceremony and talked about how much he changed their lives.

“We all know about his great career in the military, going off at a young age to serve his country, willing to do whatever he was asked to do. Then he came home and, like the greatest generation, rebuilt the country,” Boozman said. “He’s a hero in every sense of the word. Not because of his military service — that’s part of it — but he’s a hero because of the way he’s lived his life.”

Vaughns beamed throughout the ceremony, and he offered some advice to the younger generation.

“Stay off drugs — that’s number one; when you have the opportunity to go to school, stay in school,” he said. “When you come out…come out with the idea of serving people.”

Vaughns added of the recognition, “Just means that I’ve been a servant for the people, that’s what it means to me.”

Find out more in the video below.