SAYING THANKS: STATE EXPECTS TO ISSUE DIPLOMAS TO WAR VETERANS

Joe Gedville enjoyed learning, but after eighth grade at a Catholic school in south St. Louis, he ended his academic career.

As was common in the 1920s, Gedville dropped out and went to work to help support his family. In his case, he became an errand boy for a paper company. That's just the way things had to be, said Gedville.

"Dad never had the money to send me to high school," said Gedville, a longtime Jackson, Mo., resident who now lives at the Cape Girardeau Veterans Home.

Although he has waited more than 70 years, Gedville will soon get a high school diploma under a bill recently approved by the Missouri General Assembly. The measure, which is expected to be signed into law by Gov. Bob Holden, will give honorary diplomas to any honorably discharged veteran of World War I, World War II or the Korean War who wants one.

Gedville, 88, served in the Merchant Marine during World War II, delivering supplies to American troops in both the Pacific and European theaters. He is excited about taking advantage of the diploma program.

"It won't do me any good, but it's a fine thing for the state to do," Gedville said.

The program, to be known as Operation Recognition, will be a joint effort of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Missouri Veterans Commission. Sponsors of the legislation said the diplomas will be a way to thank Missouri veterans for their sacrifices serving their country.

DESE spokesman James Morris said the two agencies are in the process of crafting the details of how the program will work. The commission will set eligibility standards while DESE issues the diplomas.

The diplomas will acknowledge the veteran's military service and list the name of the high school the veteran attended or would have attended.

Morris said officials with both agencies are unsure how high demand will be for the honorary diplomas.

"We don't know if it will be a few dozen, a few hundred or a few thousand," Morris said. "But we have been getting queries already. I anticipate the interest will be there very quickly."

An effort will be made through veterans groups and local school districts to publicize the program. High schools will be encouraged to hold graduation ceremonies for honorary diploma recipients in their communities.

It is hoped the program will be ready to go by Aug. 28, when the law is slated to take effect. If not, Morris said state officials will shoot for Veterans Day in November as the latest possible fallback date.

The bill is HB 441.

Eligibility provisions

Eligibility provisions of HB 441, which when signed by the governor will authorize the state to issue honorary high school diplomas to qualified war veterans.

* The veteran served either abroad or stateside during World War I, World War II or the Korean War.

* The veteran was honorably discharged.

* The veteran is a current or former resident of Missouri.

* Diplomas may be issued posthumously.

Source: HB 441