Two Iowa Navy Veterans Finally Receive High School Diplomas After 6 Decades

Two navy veterans from Iowa got their long-overdue graduation ceremony over sixty years later, celebrated with family around them and cheered on by an entire arena filled with fans. KWQC reports .

At the Muscatine Community Stadium, 81-year-old Richard Hill and 78-year-old Dennis Snyder were the first to walk across the stage during Sunday’s Muscatine High School commencement ceremony. These gentlemen departed school prematurely to serve their nation but never got the opportunity to receive their diplomas until today.

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I couldn't believe it," Snyder stated. "I shared the news with my wife, and all she could say was, 'What?' Naturally, she began to cry instantly. I was utterly stunned.

Snyder was enlisted in the Navy from 1961 to 1965. Despite not being dispatched to Vietnam, he served during wartime and had the potential to be deployed at any moment.

Snyder dedicated the majority of his military tenure to serving at Pearl Harbor. He served under an admiral who was responsible for managing anti-submarine operations in the Pacific and mentioned he never anticipated stepping onto a graduation platform once more.

“I had no idea. I did work and get my GED when I got back out of the service, but as far as receiving my actual diploma and everything from high school, I didn’t expect that,” Snyder added.

Surrounded by his loved ones and the people of Muscatine enthusiastically supporting him—it was a moment he had never imagined experiencing.

"It truly is a collective endeavor. It’s profoundly touching that he could be awarded this honor and share this memorable moment not just with us, but with the entire Muscatine community," stated Emily Lerch, who is Snyder’s granddaughter.

They paced the stage with this year's graduating class of around 315 to 320 students, symbolizing a significant instant of acknowledgment and intergenerational cohesion.

"I'm simply thrilled that he managed to secure this opportunity, with the whole grandstand and his entire graduating class supporting him," said Julie Lerch, Snyder's daughter.

Both individuals received honorary diplomas signed by Governor Kim Reynolds via Iowa’s Operation Recognition program. This initiative grants diplomas to veterans who had to leave their studies to serve during times of war, recognizing the education they gave up to safeguard others.

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