Thirteen local veterans and a World War II internee were awarded their belated high school diplomas in a ceremony held May 24 by the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE).
The diplomas were presented by the Sacramento County Board of Education through a program called Operation Recognition. The program acknowledges veterans who missed graduating with their high school class because they enlisted in World War II, Korean War or Vietnam War military service, and Japanese American citizens whose internment in World War II relocation camps prevented them from graduating with their hometown high school class.
"This program is our humble way of paying tribute and acknowledging those who put their personal lives on hold, who put their plans on the shelf, in order to serve our country. This is our modest way of thanking them," said Marty Cavanaugh, Sacramento County Deputy Superintendent of Schools.
Honorees in attendance, joined by family members and friends, gathered with County Board of Education Trustees at Sacramento's Hilton Hotel for a pre-ceremony reception. A flag ceremony presented by the Folsom Joint Veterans Organization Color Guard opened the event. Board President Sylvia J. Ruiz conducted a brief meeting of the Board, during which Trustees unanimously voted to bestow diplomas.
"This is a gesture of our society's gratitude for the sacrifices these individuals made in the name of freedom," Ruiz said.
Student speaker Connor Sweeney of El Camino High School gave a special tribute to veterans and Japanese Americans who made sacrifices during times of war.
"Congratulations to our recipients. We should not only give these honored guests their diplomas; we should also give them our supreme gratitude and utmost respect for everything they have endured in the name of freedom," Sweeney said.
Diploma Recipients
- Sakaye Ishihara Aoki is a resident of Woodland and was interned in a relocation camp in Tule Lake, California during World War II. Prior to being relocated, she attended Sacramento High School in Sacramento.
- Richard Dale Balak is a resident of Rescue, California. Mr. Balak served in the Marines during the Vietnam War.
- Floyd Edward Carney is a resident of the South Sacramento area and served in the Army as a Sharpshooter during the Vietnam War. Prior to enlisting in the service, he attended Luther Burbank High School in Sacramento.
- Carlos Cervantes is a resident of Sacramento who served in the Navy during World War II. Prior to enlisting in the service, he attended Woodland High School in Woodland, California.
- Lewis Wayne Easter is a resident of the Hollywood Park Area of Sacramento and served in the Navy during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Prior to enlisting in the service, he attended C.K. McClatchy High School in Sacramento.
- Frank Junior Garavito is a resident of Orangevale and served in the Army as a medic during the Vietnam War. Prior to enlisting in the service, he attended Tennyson High School in Hayward, California.
- Richard C. Garlinghouse is a resident of Rancho Murieta and served in the Navy onboard the USS Antietam Aircraft Carrier during the Korean War. Prior to enlisting in the service, he attended Marysville High School in Marysville, California.
- Frank William Loscutoff is a resident of South Sacramento who served in the army as a paratrooper during the Vietnam War. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and has an Expert M-16 Bar. Prior to enlisting in the service, he attended Luther Burbank High School in Sacramento, CA.
- Rex T. Rice, Sr., is a resident of Rancho Cordova who served in the Army during World War II. Prior to enlisting in the service, he attended Gerstmeyer High School in Terre Haute, Indiana. Mr. Rice was issued the Purple Heart for his service in the Battle of the Bulge.
- Gordon Roberts is a resident of Orangevale and served in the Navy during World War II and the Korean War. Prior to enlisting in the service, he attended Sulphur Springs High School in Tampa, Florida.
- Donald Edward Strassburg is a resident of Elk Grove and served in the Navy during the Vietnam War.
- Floyd A. Van Dyke is a resident of Folsom who served in the Navy during World War II and the Korean War. He is one of 5 boys in his family who served our country during WWII. Prior to enlisting in the service, Mr. Van Dyke attended Danesfield High School in Minnesota.
- Jay B. Wiley is a resident of Folsom and served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War. He was part of the First Marine's Provisional Brigade of which he served in the 5th Marine Regiment. Prior to enlisting in the service, he attended Luther Burbank High School in San Antonio, Texas.
- Danny Leon Willyard is a resident of Orangevale who served in the Coast Guard during the Vietnam War. Prior to enlisting in the service, he attended Casa Roble High School in Orangevale, California.
The Sheldon High School Jazz Band provided entertainment for the reception's 100 guests, as well as performing a musical tribute during the diploma ceremony. The honorees posed for photos with their families and were interviewed by local media.
Operation Recognition was adopted unanimously in October 2001 by the Sacramento County Board of Education and has since expanded to include recognition of qualifying Vietnam War veterans. Operation Recognition high school diplomas are authorized by the California Education Code (§ 51430 and § 51440).
The Sacramento County Board of Education has thus far provided Operation Recognition high school diplomas to 84 individuals, including four posthumous awards. A photo gallery is available on SCOE's Operation Recognition website.
Those interested in applying for an Operation Recognition diploma for themselves or a qualifying family member should call (916) 228-2449.