SBCSS News and Press Releases

Operation Recognition Veterans Diploma Project Event On June 2

2011-05-25

HESPERIA - Thirty-six veterans from San Bernardino County who missed high school graduation because of their military service will receive their high school diplomas in a ceremony on June 2.

The Operation Recognition Veterans Diploma Project, offered in a partnership between the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools and the county's Department of Veterans Affairs, will recognize the third graduation class of veterans from World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The event is for veterans or family members of those who are deceased and awards them their high school diploma for those who met the qualifications.

"Coming just after Memorial Day, this is an outstanding way for us to recognize our veterans," County Superintendent Gary Thomas said. "It's an honor just to be part of such a worthwhile ceremony and to personally thank the veterans and their family members for service to our country."

The Diploma Project event will be held at 5:30 p.m. on June 2 at Oak Hills High School in the Hesperia Unified School District.

In addition to the veterans receiving their diplomas, more than 50 high school seniors, who have enlisted from High Desert districts in Apple Valley, Barstow, Hesperia, Snowline and Victor Valley, will be recognized at the ceremony.

The featured speaker at the event will be Todd Anton, a teacher at Heritage Elementary School in the Snowline Joint Unified School District. Anton has earned national recognition for his work on collecting oral history from World War II veterans. The California Education Code authorizes the granting of retroactive high school diplomas to eligible veterans, as well as those who were interned by federal order during World War II.

All applicants for the Operation Recognition Veterans Diploma Project must have been enrolled in high school prior to their military service or internment in a World War II relocation camp.

For more information concerning the event, contact the County Schools' Communications office at (909) 386-2413.