{"id":16720,"date":"2026-09-13T18:02:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-13T23:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/?p=16720"},"modified":"2026-09-13T09:57:53","modified_gmt":"2026-09-13T14:57:53","slug":"a-105-year-old-us-veteran-just-received-panamas-highest-honor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/events-culture\/a-105-year-old-us-veteran-just-received-panamas-highest-honor\/","title":{"rendered":"A 105-Year-Old US Veteran Just Received Panama&#8217;s Highest Honor"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A 105-year-old Puerto Rican veteran received Panama&#8217;s distinguished citizen honor this week, marking a key significant <strong>Panama veteran recognition<\/strong> ceremonies in recent memory. Jos\u00e9 A. Le\u00f3n, a <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/United_States_Army_enlisted_rank_insignia_of_World_War_II\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">master sergeant<\/a> who served two decades in the <a href=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/living\/panama-sees-opportunity-in-record-american-exodus-latest-developments\/\" rel=\"internal\">US Army<\/a>, was honored September 12, 2026, by Governor May\u00edn Correa for his <a href=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/politics-government\/panama-canal-revenue-funds-public-projects-that-make-a-profound-difference-in-2026\/\" rel=\"internal\">military service<\/a> and lifelong connection to the Central American nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d125984.5250213144!2d-80.0052857569528!3d9.331812996868297!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x8fab6e17459191c7%3A0x899234e0dfd74030!2sPolic%C3%ADa%20Nacional%20%7C%20Davis!5e0!3m2!1sen!2spa!4v1789311177843!5m2!1sen!2spa\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" style=\"border:0;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Le\u00f3n enlisted in 1941 and spent significant time stationed at <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fort_Davis,_Panama\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Fort William Davis<\/a> in Col\u00f3n province, where his three children were born. He retired in August 1961 after participating in both World War II and the Korean War, making him one of the oldest living US Army veterans with ties to Panama.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Panama Veteran Recognition Ceremony Details<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Governor Correa emphasized Le\u00f3n&#8217;s life as an example of bravery and discipline during the ceremony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8216;His life is a testimony to the importance of loyalty, discipline, and the vocation to serve&#8217; [Translated from Spanish]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The governor highlighted his dual allegiance to the United States and Panama, which Le\u00f3n considers his second homeland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DdKxZaptkGE\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; 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font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DdKxZaptkGE\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Noticia Sin L\u00edmites (@noticiasinlimites)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Joel Lee, superintendent of the American Battle Monuments Commission, presented Le\u00f3n with the US flag. The ceremony also included medals and diplomas for other war veterans residing in Panama, broadening the scope of the recognition beyond a single individual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Decades of Service and Delayed Recognition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Born in Cayey, Puerto Rico, on September 9, 1921, Le\u00f3n&#8217;s military career spanned 20 years before his retirement. His service record includes combat deployments that shaped the mid-20th century geopolitical landscape. But formal recognition came decades later, a pattern advocates say affects many veterans who served in Panama during the Canal Zone era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_8I1zveNU_U?cc_lang_pref=en&#038;hl=en&#038;cc_load_policy=1\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Esteban Blis, president of the You Served We Care foundation, attended the ceremony and described Le\u00f3n&#8217;s case as exceptional. The organization works to secure medals and recognition for American veterans while they are still alive. In December 2025, Le\u00f3n received several medals, military orders, and corrections to his military record that had been pending since his retirement in 1961.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Broader Context for Veteran Recognition in Panama<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ceremony reflects growing efforts to honor aging veterans with <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Panama%E2%80%93United_States_relations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Panama connections<\/a>. Fort William Davis, where Le\u00f3n served, operated as a US military installation during the Canal Zone period, hosting thousands of American service members over decades. Many veterans who served there maintain family and personal ties to Panamanian communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/105yea1-1200x800-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"105 years old and still celebrating! Jos\u00e9 A. Le\u00f3n, one of the oldest U.S. Army veterans residing in Panama, received a heartfelt tribute at the Governor's Office, where they sang &quot;Happy Birthday&quot; to him and he was recognized as a distinguished citizen. Born in Puerto Rico, he served more than 20 years in the U.S. Army and considers Panama his second home. Video: @lindabran1\" class=\"wp-image-16721\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/105yea1-1200x800-1-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/105yea1-1200x800-1-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/105yea1-1200x800-1-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/105yea1-1200x800-1-150x100.webp 150w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/105yea1-1200x800-1-450x300.webp 450w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/105yea1-1200x800-1.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">105 years old and still celebrating! Jos\u00e9 A. Le\u00f3n, one of the oldest U.S. Army veterans residing in Panama, received a heartfelt tribute at the Governor&#8217;s Office, where they sang &#8220;Happy Birthday&#8221; to him and he was recognized as a distinguished citizen. Born in Puerto Rico, he served more than 20 years in the U.S. Army and considers Panama his second home. Video: @lindabran1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Le\u00f3n&#8217;s visible emotion during the ceremony underscored the personal significance of the honor. He expressed pride in his military career and gratitude to authorities and community members who attended. The event adds to a series of tributes Le\u00f3n has received in Panama, where he has resided for decades and maintains deep family connections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The recognition also highlights the ongoing work of organizations like You Served We Care to correct military records and deliver long-overdue honors to veterans in their final years. For Le\u00f3n, the ceremony capped a lifetime of service spanning two wars and two nations he calls home.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A 105-year-old Puerto Rican veteran received Panama&#8217;s distinguished citizen honor this week, marking a key significant Panama veteran recognition ceremonies in recent memory. Jos\u00e9 A. Le\u00f3n, a master sergeant who served two decades in the US Army, was honored September 12, 2026, by Governor May\u00edn Correa for his military service and lifelong connection to the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16719,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[37,29],"tags":[6973,6971,50,6972,6970],"class_list":["post-16720","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-events-culture","category-politics-government","tag-distinguished-citizen-honor","tag-military","tag-panama","tag-veteran-recognition-ceremony","tag-veterans"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16720","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16720"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16720\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16722,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16720\/revisions\/16722"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16719"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16720"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16720"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16720"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}