Solano County To Give HS Diplomas To Veterans, Japanese-Americans

SOLANO COUNTY, CA — The Solano County Office of Education is participating in "Operation Recognition," a program that grants retroactive high school diplomas to U.S. Veterans and Japanese-American citizens who were unable to finish high school due to wartime circumstances. Posthumous diplomas may also be granted to family members of deceased veterans, SCOE administrators said Monday in a news release.

During the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, thousands of young men and women left high school to serve in the United States Armed Forces. During World War II many Japanese-American citizens were interned in relocation camps in various locations across the United States. After these wars, many of these individuals were not able to finish high school and receive high school diplomas. Veterans and Japanese-American citizens now have the opportunity to be granted diplomas as a gesture of gratitude for the sacrifices they made, according to SCOE.

"We are privileged and honored to recognize local Veterans, living or deceased, with retroactive diplomas," said Lisette Estrella-Henderson, Solano Superintendent of Schools. Our veterans made sacrifices for the freedom and the safety of our country, and this is one way that we can recognize them for all they have done for of us."

Solano County's Operation Recognition ceremony is scheduled to take place Thursday, March 5, at the Solano County Office of Education, 5100 Business Center Dr., in Fairfield.

Interested parties should submit applications by Jan. 31. Applications can be obtained from SCOE's office, online at Solanocoe.net or by calling 707-399-4409.

To be eligible, recipients must have been enrolled in a high school prior to enlistment in military service during WWII, the Korean War or the Vietnam War, or before internment in a World War II relocation camp.