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NORTH COUNTRY, N.Y. -- A North Country resident finally received the medal he earned for his military service more than 60 years ago.

Congressman Bill Owens presented Charles Lake with the Bronze Star on Thursday.

A native of Ogdensburg, Lake served in the Army right at the beginning of the Korean War, but his paperwork got lost and he never got his medal.

While he's happy to finally receive the award, he says he's not the real hero.

"I'm very proud that my country finally gave it to me. I'm proud to serve my country and I don't like people to say I’m a big hero or something, I'm just a survivor. The heros are the ones in the ground,” Lake said.

Lake had actually given up on ever getting the medal, but his daughter, who has since passed away, encouraged him to continue.