A 96-year-old World War II vet finally got his high school diploma — complete with graduation cap and tassel — decades after the draft cut his senior year short.
Arthur Masterson, of Warwick, Rhode Island, was surprised with official papers from an East Greenwich school as a Christmas gift from his family, WJAR reported Sunday.
“On Thanksgiving, we were here looking at some paperwork that he had and my son-in-law realized that he had left high school to join the army,” his daughter Elaine Vespia told a local station.
Masterson only had a few months left to graduate before we went off to war. The grandfather served 11 months in the Navy during World War II and two years in the Army during the Korean War, according to the outlet.
Vespia wanted to do something special for his dad and decided to contact the superintendent of the school district where Masterson attended high school to see if they would appreciate the time spent fighting for the country towards his degree.
Arthur Masterson received his high school diploma decades after the World War II draft cut his senior year short. wbaltv
He sent an email to East Greenwich School Superintendent Dr. Brian Ricca was happy to help.
“Always as a superintendent, my response even after digging and searching is no. It felt really good to say yes,” Ricc told WJAR.
The entire family gathered on Christmas day and presented the veteran with an official diploma while placing the graduation cap on his head.
“A lot of us were really crying, it was a very happy moment that we were able to give him,” said Vespia.
Masterson only had a few months left to graduate before we went off to war. wbaltv The grandfather served 11 months in the Navy during World War II and two years in the Army during the Korean War. wbaltv
Masterson could hardly believe it, according to the shock video.
“Diploma after so many years?!” he said before smiling and giving a thumbs up for his “graduation” photo.
School officials also included his school papers from 1945 as well as school photos, the family said.
“I told the superintendent, I said, ‘You’ll never know how much this means to be able to give it to my dad for Christmas’,” Vespia said.
Ricc said it was an honor to do so.
“I hope this is a small token that we can add in terms of our gratitude for what he has done for our country and that he knows that he has earned it in every sense of the word,” he said.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
