A visit to the USS Midway Museum in downtown San Diego turned into a surprise honor on Thursday for 98-year-old World War II veteran Charles Araiza. Instead, the longtime San Diego resident became the guest of honor during a ceremony on the flight deck, surrounded by family, fellow veterans, and museum visitors. The USS Midway drew crowds of schoolchildren and veterans sharing war stories, as well as Araiza’s family, who helped plan the surprise. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication.