RIVERSIDE – They were far from home, serving their country while their classmates marched in graduation ceremonies, and now their dedication to their country will be recognized with the high school diploma they never received. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard veterans who missed their high school graduation because of their military service have until Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, to apply for a diploma through the 2024 Operation Recognition Program.
“We look forward to honoring the veterans who have sacrificed their education to serve their country,” said Dr. Edwin Gomez, Riverside County School Superintendent. “It’s never too late to pursue a degree, and we encourage friends and family members to reach out to veterans who are eligible for this long-overdue recognition.”
Since 2007, a total of 378 veterans have received a diploma through Operation Recognition. Diplomas are awarded through a partnership between the Riverside County Board of Education, the Riverside County Office of Education, and the Riverside County Department of Veterans’ Services. To receive a diploma, individuals must have served in the U.S. Armed Forces with an honorable discharge during World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War, or be interned in a Japanese relocation camp during World War II, and must currently reside in Riverside County. Completed application forms and supporting documentation must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. Friday, October 18, 2024.
Applications, forms, photos and videos of last year’s ceremony are available online at www.rcoe.us/operation-recognition. Applying for a diploma is free. Applications can also be requested by phone. Interested parties can contact Yadira Chavelas at (951) 826-6570 or email her at [email protected].
Diplomas will be presented to veterans on November 6, 2024, in the RCOE Board Room at 3939 13th Street, Riverside, CA 92501. Additional details will be posted as they become available at www.rcoe.us/operation-recognition.
The program is open to current Riverside County residents whose high school education was interrupted by military service in World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War. Degrees may also be awarded posthumously. Section 51440 of the Education Code allows high school diplomas to be awarded retroactively to eligible veterans. Section 51430 also allows diplomas to be awarded retroactively to Japanese American citizens who were unable to complete their hometown high school due to internment under federal orders during World War II.
Submitted by Riverside County Office of Education.
