Last modified: Saturday, January 26, 2008 12:48 AM EST Well-known city resident, municipal political activist and World War II veteran Irene Davey was honored Friday at the Larson Senior Center in Attleboro. (Staff photo by MARK STOCKWELL) 'I have the best of it' BY GEORGE W. RHODES SUN CHRONICLE STAFF ATTLEBORO No one had to look far to find the life of the party at a surprise 100th birthday celebration for Irene Davey, one of the city's best known and most active senior citizens. It was Davey, herself, who was the star of the show Friday, peppering the event at the Council on Aging with a flow of wit and wisdom that would be impressive for a person of any age, never mind someone with a century-old brain. The party for Davey, who is also the oldest female military veteran in the state, was attended by at least 100 family members, friends and various government officials and featured a big cake and video biography on her life. Some couldn't attend, like President and Mrs. Bush, who sent a personal birthday wish in a framed photo, and U.S. Rep. James McGovern D-Worcester, who called to wish Davey a happy birthday. Mayor Kevin Dumas was there, along with state Rep. Betty Poirier, R-North Attleboro, and state Sen. Scott Brown, R-Wrentham. But it was Davey, well known for her willingness to comment on city, state and national politics at the drop of a hat, who was the star of the show. No one there could match her, and one friend, City Councilor Walter Thibodeau, said few anywhere can. "We all love you and appreciate - some more than others - the boldness with which you tell us what you feel," Thibodeau said, sparking a laugh. At that, Davey responded with some wisdom and some of thoughts on the latest happenings at city hall. She said her "boldness" comes from a long held belief that honesty is the best policy. "Tell the truth," she said. "It's the easiest thing in the world to do, and it's the best way out of everything and anything." Davey then issued her opinion on a debate about whether city firefighters should be required to live in Attleboro and if they should be paramedics. The answers were, "No," and "Yes." "We have the right to reach out and get the best," she told the gathering. "And every one of them should be a paramedic. It could mean someone's life." Davey, who joined the Army in 1942 with her late husband, Harold, and served until the end of the end of World War II as a recruiter, kept the party laughing. She said she'd use the force of her personality to get new soldiers when she was a recruiter. "If they didn't want to go into the service, I made them," Davey said. At one point she spotted an old friend. "Hi Charlie," she said. "Charlie and I were going to get married, but he wouldn't get rid of his wife." And she looked at Veteran's Agent Peter Rego, who helped orchestrate the party and jokingly labeled him "a trouble maker" for luring her to the senior center under the false pretenses of going over veterans documents. "I was wondering why he couldn't just bring the papers to my house," she said. But while the laughs came fast, Davey was serious about the important things. She cherished her life with Harold, who died 35 years ago. His death left an enduring empty space in her life, but family and friends help ease the void. "I have the best family in the world," Davey said, noting her son and daughter, Martin and Patricia, are constantly attentive and a grandson brings groceries every week. And friends are special. "It's been a lonely road," Davey said. "But having friends like you make me feel so good." Davey said she'd live her life over again in a second. "Just tell me when to begin. I've had a great life. Like everyone else, I've had ups and downs with tears and smiles," she said. "But if you've never cried, you've never known what happiness is about." Life is best lived in the present, Davey said. "We only have this moment, let's make the most of it," she said. "Right now, I have the best of it." GEORGE W. RHODES can be reached at 508-236-0432 or at grhodes@thesunchronicle.com.