India, July 5 -- A 102-year-old World War II veteran has an inspiring message for his fellow Americans. Jake Larson, lovingly known as "Papa Jake" on TikTok, recently opened up to Fox News Digital about what July 4 means to him. Recalling his time in the army, the veteran expressed his gratitude towards those fallen soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

In a Fox News interview published Thursday, the 102-year-old WWII hero said that Independence Day is a special time for him. "When the Fourth of July comes around each year, I think about how lucky we all are living in this country. In this country, we don't care where you came from - we're all Americans. If you fight for our freedoms in America, you are an American,...