Do you ever have those days where you just don’t want to get out of bed or your goals and dreams feel so far out of sight that you just want to give up?

We all do sometimes, but it’s heroes like 104-year-old Ray Chavez who can help remind us that anything is possible if we step up to the challenge and put in the work.

On December 7, 1941, Chavez was present at the Pearl Harbor bombings off the coast in Honolulu, Hawaii. Today, Chavez returns for the historic, heartbreaking day’s 75th anniversary. He is the oldest known living survivor of the attacks on Pearl Harbor and at his age, however, the journey did not come easily.

Chavez didn’t just survive that historic day, but he has continued to outlive his comrades and proven himself a survivor in another way. For the past three years, he has been a self-described gym rat, working with a train to acquire the strength necessary to make the long journey to Hawaii to commemorate all those who died, on the 75th anniversary.

“I tell my clients all the time, when they say, ‘I’m too old to do this or that,’ I say, ‘No, look at Ray, that excuse doesn’t fly anymore,’” Chavez’s trainer, Sean Thompson, told NBC of his client’s dedication.  Chavez has since put on 20 pounds of muscle with the help of Thompson and thanks to Alaska Airlines, he now has a first class ticket to make the 6-hour flight from his home in San Diego.

The war hero told NBC that he will be back for the 80th anniversary when he is 109. “If I can walk, I’ll go,” he said.

Does this heroic veteran’s incredible story inspire you to survive against all odds? Let us know your experience in the comments…

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[Featured Image: NBC]