A 102-year-old World War II veteran has finally retired after more than 30 years as a school crossing guard.
Thomas Fauset coached students across the street from Guilford County, North Carolina, schools for 36 years before embarking on a second career after the war. CBS17 report.
After his military service, Faucett began working for the U.S. Postal Service until he retired in 1986, but he couldn’t stay put.
Two years later, he began working as a crossing guard at Peck Elementary School in Greensboro.
“I don’t know which way to go,” the centenarian said on the last Friday of the school year. “Up, down or south?”
The reward of his job is “seeing them safely going up and down the streets,” said his wife, Elizabeth Faucett.
Students and staff gathered in front of the school building to say goodbye to their beloved crossing guard one last time.
“Not many people get to this point in their careers and have such an amazing life as Mrs. Fawcett has,” Principal Ashley Triplett said.
“He doesn’t know it yet,” Elizabeth told local media, adding that she has plans to keep him busy while she’s out of work.
“I don’t know who Fawcett’s replacement is going to be. Whoever replaces him, it’s going to be difficult,” Triplett said. “They certainly have a legacy to follow.”
The Greensboro Police Department also praised Fawcett for his many years of service, saying:We can’t thank him enough for his years of service, and now at 102 years old, he truly deserves a wonderful retirement.”
“Thank you Mr. Fawcett,” police wrote in an Instagram post.
