A man who seldom spoke about his time in World War II but was so proud he carried his discharge papers with him every day was posthumously honored for his service.

George Schreck, of Ridgefield, passed away in April, but a ceremony was held in his honor at the Bergen County Administration Building on Thursday.

Schreck was a Marine and fought on Iwo Jima.

His proud children received the award on his behalf. "He's looking down on us now," says his daughter Maryann Schreck. "We waited for the sign that he comes back to us, you know. My mom, we feel, comes back to us as a butterfly and we're just waiting for him to come back in one form or other."

Over the last few years, Bergen County has given out awards to more than 1,500 veterans.