Dario Raschio, a centenarian who lives in Oregon, is a national treasure worthy of people's respect and admiration.

After joining the Navy at the age of 27, he participated in five campaigns in the Pacific theater of World War II, flying observational planes based off the light cruiser, USS Chester. It was fitting that residents of Portland wanted to honor the aged soldier at a public town hall meeting.Last Saturday was to be Dario's special day.Sen. Ron Wyden opened the award ceremony at Portland Community College campus, saying it's never too late for Oregon and America to remember one of its heroes.It was then that a group of protesters burst through the doors shouting "Hands up, don't shoot" and "I can't breathe." These are the anti-police rallying cries being used to denigrate law enforcement for what the protesters feel were police abuses and for grand jury rulings in Ferguson, Missouri, and New York City.Outside the Portland meeting hall, other protesters began banging on the window and waving signs. Two were cuffed and charged with second-degree disorderly conduct after they refused to obey police commands to stop blocking traffic while protesting outside.One protester, arguing with security, said: "We're taking over the town hall. This is our town hall now ... it belongs to the black people."It took 15 minutes before Wyden was able to talk the group into quieting down inside the hall so he could continue with the medal ceremony.Raschio was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, the U.S. Naval Aviator Badge, the American Defense Service Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, a U.S. Navy Honorable Discharge Pin, and the "Ruptured Duck" award.He was also given a flag that had flown over the U.S. Capitol building.When Raschio came to the microphone, he was shouted at by protesters who demanded that the U.S. military leave Iraq."Give me a chance," the old veteran asked of the protesters. "Let's show a little respect for this occasion."Raschio's reaction was met with cheers and applause from the audience. He told the crowd he was accepting the medals on behalf of those who died in World War II and closed his short remarks by saying "God bless America."Before Raschio could return to his seat, the chanting resumed, with one protester declaring, "We are going to take time to pay respect to everybody who has been killed by police in this nation."After 45 minutes of chanting, organizers finally called off the town hall meeting.The obnoxious protesters did succeed in disrupting the ceremony and shutting down the meeting.What the ignorant and selfish protesters hadn't expected, however, was to be put in their place by a 100-year-old old veteran who seven decades ago fought to protect the same right to free speech they had exercised in order to heckle him.By JIM ZBICKtneditor@tnonline.com