Date to give diplomas to veterans is changed

4/9/2004

A ceremony for Korean War veterans who will be given their high school diplomas from Lucas County schools has been changed and will be combined with an event for veterans who would have graduated from Wood County schools.

It also will include some World War II veterans who, like those who left school early to serve in the Korean War, will be handed their overdue diplomas.

The ceremony - with caps, gowns, and refreshments - will be held at 2 p.m. May 16 at the University of Toledo's Nitschke Hall, 2801 West Bancroft St.

Since a recent law change made it possible for Korean War vets to obtain their diplomas, the Lucas County Veterans Services Commission has sent out dozens of applications to interested veterans.

Originally, the agency scheduled a ceremony for May 29 to coincide with other Memorial Day activities at Fifth Third Field. But Toledo Public Schools already had a ceremony scheduled for May 16.

The two events have been combined into the earlier date, in part, because many of the veterans are elderly and the Memorial Day events already stretch for several hours.

"It just got to be too confusing and too long a day," said Les Schultz, director of special services at the Lucas County Educational Services Center, which is helping coordinate the event.

Yesterday, letters were sent to Wood County's nine school districts informing them of the ceremony, said Doug Garmon, superintendent with Wood County Educational Services Center. Applications are being accepted at the Wood County Veterans Assistance Center, where three veterans expressed interest by yesterday.