Radnor HS Alum, Vietnam Vet Gets Diploma Over 45 Years Later

In 2010, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed Act 104 of 2010.

The law allows school districts in the state to award diplomas to former students who left their schools to serve in the military before they graduated. Eligible veterans must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for diplomas under the law, called "Operation Recognition."

On Veterans Day, a former Radnor High School student and Vietnam veteran was formally awarded his diploma thanks to Operation Recognition.

Anthony Brigg enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1970 in the middle of his junior year at RHS and served in Vietnam from February 1972 until March 1973 then transferred from active duty to the U.S. Army Reserve in August 1973 and was honorably discharged on August 4, 1976.

Brigg reached the rank of Specialist and earned the National Good Conduct Medal, the Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal and the Army Commendation Medal.

Brigg has been a fixture on local football fields for the past 26 years and the Radnor football team’s head defensive line coach for the last 10 years.

"A Radnor Raider through and through, Mr. Brigg has served both our country and our community faithfully," Radnor High School Principal Dan Bechtold said at the Nov. 11 ceremony at the school.

"But this is not where the story ends," Bechtold said. "Six years ago, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed Act 104 of 2010. This law, better known as 'Operation Recognition,'authorizes school districts to grant a high school diploma to any honorably discharged veteran who served in the United States military in the Vietnam War and who withdrew prior to earning their diploma."

Brigg was presented with his high school diploma by Interim Superintendent Dr. Anthony Costello and School Board member Charles E. Madden III.

Bechtold said at the ceremony that Brigg being awarded his diploma was only the beginning of a larger district initiative to locate and present diplomas to as many former RHS students as possible who meet the qualifications of the "Operation Recognition" law.

See photos from the Nov. 11 Veterans Day ceremony here

Also at the ceremony, "The National Anthem" was sung by student Abrah Katzman accompanied by the RHS Honor Guard; the members of the RHS Wall of Honor were formally "welcomed home;" a rendition of Taps was performed by student David Macpherson; and special guest Sergeant Christian H. Craig, RHS Class of 1999, presented Anna Duffy, the senior class president, with an American flag as a token of thanks to the Class of 2017 for its contributions to servicemen and women.

Adapted from an article that originally appeared on the Radnor Township School District website.

Image via Radnor Township School District