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Pomp
for unique circumstances Veterans receive the
diplomas they put off for service |
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Fred and Bobby Freeman dropped out of Emerson Vocational High
School during the Korean War and joined the Army together. They and a third
brother, Donald, who also joined the Army, came back from overseas, got jobs,
married, raised families and remained close over the years. Fred, of
Cheektowaga, and Bobby, of Bowmansville, stood together Friday for another of
life's milestones when they received their high school diplomas. Fred Freeman said
it felt good. "Better late
than never," he said. The three Freeman
brothers and 30 other veterans were eligible for diplomas under New York
State's Operation Recognition program, which recognizes World War II and
Korean War veterans who sacrificed completing their high school education in
order to serve the nation. "It's a
long-overdue recognition," said Assembly Majority Leader Paul A. Tokasz,
who bestowed diplomas on the veterans. Tokasz's office
mentioned the program in a recent newsletter, and the office heard from 33
veterans from Cheektowaga and Lancaster. Twenty-five attended Friday's
ceremony in the Cheektowaga Senior Center and received diplomas from more
than 20 schools as far away as Binghamton. Fred Freeman
attended with his wife, Patti, and Bobby came with his wife, Josie, and sons
Daniel and James, daughter-in-law Eileen and 1-year-old granddaughter Joan.
Donald Freeman could not make the ceremony. James Freeman was
just as excited seeing his father get his high school diploma as his dad was
seeing him graduate from high school. "Maybe I
should yell out his name like he did at my graduation," he joked. When Fred and Bobby
Freeman got to boot camp, the Army realized they were brothers and would not
send them into combat together. Bobby ended up going to Korea, Fred to
Germany, and a couple of years later Donald went to France. "Everybody was
quitting," Fred Freeman said, adding that their mother was not happy
about having three boys in the service. Each eventually
earned his high school equivalency degree, and then their GED records were
burned in a fire. The men went on to jobs with the Niagara Frontier
Transportation Authority and M&G Convoy. With the 25 veterans
came 25 different stories, like that of Edward Czuprynski of Lancaster, who
left Burgard Vocational High School in 1943 to join the 1st Army Corps. "I'm just happy
to have it," he said of his diploma. "It's not like it was a
deterrent, not having it." After World War II,
he worked for American Machine & Foundry, Twin Industries and General
Motors, using skills gained from experience, not school. "You always use
a lot of practical knowledge and common sense," said Czuprynski, 77.
"You get along." Edward Pollo of
Depew, who joined the Marines in 1945, said he wasn't a hero. But the diploma
"makes me feel kind of proud," he said. "It kind of
gives me bragging rights with my grandchildren - you're never too old,"
he said. Why did he leave
Seneca Vocational when he was 17? "The war was
going on. For every young kid, that was the place you wanted to be,"
said Pollo, who later worked in Buffalo grain elevators. Valentine Kirisits
celebrated his 85th birthday by going to the ceremony Friday. "I think it's wonderful," said the
veteran of the Coast Guard, looking down at his diploma. |
