POWAY (NEWS 8) - Ray Chavez, who was the nation's oldest Pearl Harbor survivor, was laid to rest Thursday.
The 106-year old veteran passed away peacefully in his sleep in November, after surviving the attack on Pearl Harbor 77 years ago.
A memorial mass was held at Saint Michael's Catholic Church in Poway before his casket was taken to at Miramar National Cemetery on Thursday afternoon.
Along the way, the procession passed throngs of county residents who paid their respects to Chavez, a San Diego native.
Mayor Kevin Faulconer was in attendance and proclaimed December 13 Ray Chavez Day in the city of San Diego.
"He was a true patriot who protected our nation during the attacks on Pearl Harbor and throughout World War II," Mayor Faulconer said at the service. "And of course a long-time, active, great member of our San Diego community.
In an interview with News 8, Chavez recounted the events of the day that would live in infamy. “I could not believe it. Even as I was looking at it,” he recalled. Chavez said he was falling asleep after a shift sweeping for mines when his wife frantically woke him.
"She said 'we're being attacked,'" Chavez told News 8 at the time. "I said 'who would attack us?' and she said 'the Japanese are here.'"
Chavez recalled going outside and witnessing ships in the harbor on fire. "The oil and grease was on fire in the water and all the sailors that were alive were trying to save themselves and other boats were trying to save them too," Chavez said.
"Ray was honored to have served his country and to fight among heroes and loved meeting his fellow comrades," Chavez's family said in a statement. "He cherished his time going to talk to the kids at schools because he doesn't want them to forget Pearl Harbor."
This past May, he traveled to Washington D.C. to meet the president of The United States.
Chavez had been honored over the years at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. At the age of 103, he threw out the first pitch at a San Diego Padres game.
This past March, as Chavez celebrated his 106th birthday, he told News 8 his secret to longevity, in part, was not drinking or doing drugs.
Ray Chavez, who was the nation's oldest Pearl Harbor survivor, was laid to rest Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018.
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