The whole United States celebrates Mel Gitlin’s birthday with a national holiday. The Brooklyn native turns 78 today. His celebration routine involves a meal of Nathan’s hot dogs, which he has specially shipped to him from New York each year. Gitlin lives in the Sunnyhill area near Hauser. World Photo by Lou Sennick

Independence Day seems a fitting birthday for a retired U.S. Navy chief who raises money for veterans causes.

Mel Gitlin’s birthday is always a special occasion, and not just because he shares it with the country he has devoted his life to serving. It’s also special because of Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs. Gitlin, who has a notable Brooklyn accent, has the Coney Island favorite shipped to his home near Hauser every year for his special meal on his special day.

The day was even more special in 1939. On that day, Gitlin turned 8 and saw the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. They sang “Happy Birthday” to him.

Gitlin didn’t understand the significance of the performance at the time. Nor did he realize yet that July 4 wasn’t just his birthday.

“I was a slow learner.” he said “I thought everybody was celebrating my birthday and not the country’s.”

Gitlin’s father, a New York Giants football player at the time, set up the birthday surprise.

“That was pretty neat,” he said. “I’ll never forget that.”