AURORA, ILLINOIS — Ray Svejnoha, a 100-year-old World War II veteran, attended prom with students from Metea Valley High School in Aurora, Illinois, more than 80 years after missing his own due to military service. Svejnoha left school before graduation after receiving orders to report for duty during World War II.

Students from Metea Valley High School's Tech Connect club learned that Svejnoha had never attended his prom and invited him to their school's event. They surprised him with a prom invitation featuring patriotic decorations and a sign that read, "82 years late, but right on time." The community helped prepare him for the event with a haircut, manicure, and tuxedo fitting. The club regularly helps residents at Independence Village, a senior living community in Naperville, with technology and digital devices.

Svejnoha arrived at prom in a vintage trolley decorated with balloons and streamers and joined students on the dance floor. "During my younger age, I had a choice of going into the service, and I took two exams: one for the Navy and one for the Army Air Force. I didn't have too much choice—I was supposed to report for duty," Svejnoha said.

"It never approached me that the prom was that important in my lifetime. But when they approached me about it, and the way they said it, why, them girls were more excited than I was. After I heard them, well, I was just about as excited, too, but it was so nice of them to even think about it," he added.

Carey Peterson, the club adviser, said, "That's where my little lightbulb went on, and I thought, 'I think we can help him out with that.'"