RIVERSIDE – They were away from home serving their country while classmates were marching in commencement ceremonies, and now their commitment to their country will be honored with the high school diploma they never received. Veterans from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard who missed out on their high school graduations due to military service have until Friday, October 18, 2024, to apply for a diploma through the 2024 Operation Recognition Program.
“We look forward to honoring the veterans who sacrificed their education in order to serve their country,” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez. “It’s never too late to pursue a diploma, and we encourage friends and family members to reach out to veterans who may be eligible for this long-overdue recognition.”
A total of 378 veterans have received a diploma through Operation Recognition since 2007. The diplomas are awarded as a joint effort of the Riverside County Board of Education, the Riverside County Office of Education, and the Riverside County Department of Veterans’ Services. To be eligible for a diploma, individuals must have served in the U.S. Armed Forces in World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War with an honorable discharge, or interned in a Japanese American 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 p.m., on Friday, October 18, 2024.
Application, forms, photos, and video from last year’s ceremony are available online at www.rcoe.us/operation-recognition. There is no charge to apply for a diploma. Applications can also be requested by telephone. Interested persons may contact Yadira Chavelas at (951) 826-6570 or email her at ychavelas@rcoe.us.
Diplomas will be presented to veterans on November 6, 2024, at the RCOE Board Room located at 3939 13th Street, Riverside, CA 92501. More details will be posted as they become available at www.rcoe.us/operation-recognition.
The program is open to current residents of Riverside County whose high school education was interrupted by military service in World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War. Degrees can also be conferred posthumously. Education Code Section 51440 authorizes the granting of retroactive high school diplomas to eligible veterans. Section 51430 also authorizes the retroactive granting of diplomas to Japanese-American citizens whose internment by federal order in World War II prevented them from graduating from their hometown high school.
Submitted by Riverside County Office of Education.
