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VISALIA, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - The vacation play continues to bring reasons for radical successful Visalia to celebrate, 1 Visalia nonmigratory volition beryllium celebrating a "landmark" birthday, 100 years of life.
Norman Virgil Vikan was calved connected Dec. 25, 1924, successful North Dakota. In January 1943, Vikan enlisted successful the Army Air Corps and qualified to beryllium a pilot, navigator and bombardier, according to officials astatine Quail Park Shannon Ranch.
He chose to prosecute a vocation arsenic a pilot, flying assorted aircraft, including PT-19s, BT-14s, B-17s, B-29s, and adjacent a B-24.
After completing his subject service, Vikan relocated to Visalia successful 1959 with his woman and 3 daughters. Officials with Quail Park Shannon Ranch Vikan accidental helium spent the adjacent 5 decades moving astatine Williams Jewelry, which aboriginal became Raphael’s Jewelry, until his status successful 2008.
Though his woman Janice passed distant successful 2018, those who cognize Vikan accidental helium ever tries his champion to person a affirmative outlook connected life.
Officials astatine Quail Park Shannon Ranch accidental the ranch volition big a peculiar day enactment honoring Vikan and different residents with December birthdays.
The lawsuit volition beryllium celebrated connected Dec. 19, astatine 3 p.m. with a sojourn from Vice Mayor Brett Taylor, who volition contiguous Vikan with a certificate successful designation of his singular beingness and service.
As a longtime nonmigratory of Visalia, Vikan is said to beryllium anxious to stock his memories of a period filled with history, resilience, and love, officials with Quail Park Shannon Ranch said.
Organizers accidental helium looks guardant to celebrating this singular milestone with his family, friends, and the Visalia assemblage connected his 100th birthday.
