Park ranger celebrates 95th birthday

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Betty Reid Soskin at Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, California. (NPS photo)

Happy birthday, Betty! Betty Reid Soskin turned 95 on Thursday. She is the oldest full-time park ranger in the National Park Service.

Soskin is assigned to the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, California, where she guides tours and answers questions from visitors.

Her colleagues at the National Park Service surprised her Thursday with a cake and a party. As part of her birthday present, Soskin was brought to Washingtion, D.C., this week to get an early tour of the brand-new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, which opens Saturday.

The great-granddaughter of a slave, Soskin has been to the White House, where she met President Obama, who gave her a special presidential coin.

Earlier this summer, an intruder broke into her home, assaulted her, and stole the coin and other valuables.

Soskin is also an avid blogger.