PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Today we're honoring the men and women who served our country. One of them is 93-year-old Rear Admiral Sidney Boyd Vaughn Junior. 

Vaughn is a lifelong resident of St. Petersburg and spent 38 years in the Coast Guard. 

Now that his wife and all of his Coast Guard comrades have passed, Veterans Day hits a little different for him. 

"I couldn't have wished, couldn't have imagined all the things that happened to me," he said. 

Rear Admiral Vaughn may not be 18 anymore, but he's just as sharp. 

Vaughn was born in St. Pete and graduated from St. Petersburg High in 1946s. 

He said he was about to get drafted, so he took the Coast Guard exam. That started his 38-year career and solidified his passion for his country. 

"Everything I've done is a result of that flag. It means...a lot.....it means a lot," Vaughn expressed through tears. 

The first ship Vaughn was stationed on was in St. Pete. He then took on a leadership role in the Coast Guard, training hundreds of officers including some of the first women in the branch. 

"It's a very special honor for me, particularly at this time in my life, to be selected to represent St. Pete. That will always be special to me," Vaughn said. 

Vaughn will turn 94-years-old on Saturday and said the recognition from the city means more than many of us will ever understand. 

"I don't have friends that I can mingle with, that sort of thing, have parties with, but now I have a new group of friends here in St. Pete, some of which are here this morning — that are here to honor me. And I'm thankful for them doing that," he said. 

Vaughn was one of three vets to receive St. Petersburg's Honored Veteran Award today.