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RCOE awards high school diplomas to veterans
The Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE) today (November 10, 2009) awarded high school diplomas to 29 veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam-era wars, noting their sacrifice and service in its annual Operation Recognition Ceremony (Video | honoree photos | photos from ceremony).
The program allows veterans and internees to receive diplomas in recognition of their service to their country. The program is sponsored by RCOE with assistance from the Riverside County Department of Veteran’s Services.
“One day these young men and women were carrying their textbooks to school and attending classes. The next, they were carrying weapons in order to protect our nation and preserve our freedom,” noted Kenneth Young, Riverside County Superintendent of Schools.
Young said veterans learned lessons during their times of service that qualified them for a diploma “and in the subject of history, they not only learned it from their international assignments, they MADE it.”
RCOE has awarded 191 diplomas since beginning the program in May 2007. The program is now held in November to coincide with Veterans’ Day activities.
Superintendent Young was joined in the ceremony by William Earl, Director of the Riverside County Department of Veteran’s Services, and Board Members Lynne Craig and Vick Knight Jr.
Also on hand were representatives of local elected Assembly and Senate members. Families and friends wiped away tears and watched veterans step forward as their names were called to receive diplomas and have their picture snapped in a “class photo.”
Being interviewed by a television reporter, one veteran, Harry W. Cutting, 85, who served in the US Navy during World War II, said he became very emotional during the ceremony because he has always missed having a high school diploma, but serving his country meant more. “If I had to do it all over again, I would do exactly the same thing,” he said. “But this means a lot to me, and I am so grateful. This has been a long time coming.”
The honorees included:
Robert Wayne Archer
Serving in the Navy during the Vietnam War
Vincent O. Arellano
Serving in the Army during World War II
Linzy Ray Banks
Serving in the Army during the Vietnam War
Frank L. Bernich
Serving in the Marines during the Vietnam War
Charles E. Billups
Serving in the Army during the Korean War
Floyd J. Birch
Serving in the Navy during the World War II
Camillo Razo Calderon
Serving in the Army during the Korean War
Arthur A. Carvalho
Serving in the Marines during the Korean War
Leon Chagolla
Serving in the Marines during the Korean War
James Franklin Colvin
Serving in the Army during the Vietnam War
Harry W. Cutting
Serving in the Navy during the World War II
Raymond Ortiz Guerrero
Serving in the Army during the Korean War
Eugene B. Guilbert, Sr.
Serving in the Navy during the World War II and the Korean War
Richard Louis Haller
Serving in the Navy during the World War II
Charles R. Hazen, Jr.
Serving in the Army during the Vietnam War
Randall N. Klauk
Serving in the Marines during the Vietnam War
Rodney Scott Lloyd
Serving in the Army during the Vietnam War
Robert Magana
Serving in the Navy during the Vietnam War
Salvador Soria Murillo
Serving in the Army during the Korean War
Robert Edward Pearson
Serving in the Army during the Vietnam War
Harry Peterson
Serving in the Navy during the Korean War
Hubert Pierce
Serving in the Air Force during the Vietnam War
Si Porter
Serving in the Marines during the Korean War
Edward A. Sandoval
Serving in the Marines during the Vietnam War
Harold E. Six, Sr.
Serving in the Navy during the Vietnam War
Garey Dale Smith
Serving in the Air Force during the Korean War
Jerry E. Tidwell
Serving in the Marines during the Vietnam War
Roger Jay Williams
Serving in the Army during the Korean War
Eldon Ray Wilson
Serving in the Marines during the World War II
For additional information on next year’s Operation Recognition ceremony, please contact Tracey Rivas at (951) 826-6570 or trivas@rcoe.us.
(Honoree photos | photos from ceremony)
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