 |
July 2008 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Years late, but not a diploma short for vets |
|
Wednesday, 09 April 2008 |
Local men receive high school degrees decades after their military service
 Veterans Bruce Lillicrap, left, and Edwin Koch Jr., take a few seconds outside Wapakoneta High School to look at the diplomas they received during the Wapakoneta City Schools Board of Education meeting Tuesday night. (Staff photo/ Karen Campbell)
By KAREN CAMPBELL
Staff Writer
Like any proud family member, Brent Koch focused his video camera as diplomas were handed out Tuesday.
It wasn’t his daughter or son he came from West Alexandria to see graduate, but rather his father, Edwin E. Koch Jr., a veteran who was finally receiving his diploma after nearly 55 years.
In accordance with state law passed several years ago, any veterans of World War II, the Vietnam War or the Korean Conflict who attended public high school prior to service and were honorably discharged would be eligible to receive their high school diplomas.
Wapakoneta City Schools has recognized veterans for several years, honoring them with their high school diplomas, and last year included them in regular graduation ceremonies at the end of the year, as well as at board meetings throughout the year.
School board members distributed diplomas to Koch and Bruce F. Lillicrap during Tuesday’s meeting. The men also plan to attend graduation ceremonies at Wapakoneta High School in May.
“It is a huge honor to recognize these men with the diplomas they had to give up to serve their country,” Superintendent Keith Horner said during the meeting. “It is with the utmost respect and thanks that I present these.”
Koch, 71, volunteered for the draft right after the Korean War in September 1954. The oldest of four children, the 18-year-old joined the U.S. Army to help his mother and father.
He served the country in the military for two years, spending 15 1/2 months in Germany doing field communications.
After his time was up, Koch came back to the area, spending time working as a carpenter, paver and factory worker before his retirement.
Another veteran talked him into filling out the paperwork so he could finally earn his high school diploma from Wapakoneta High School, where he would have graduated if he would have stayed in school.
“My high school diploma was something I sometimes thought about,” Koch said. “I just let it go and kept on working, but it was something I looked back on and wished I had.”
His wife, Hilda Koch, said it was something he talked about, but as he got older, he pushed it back further on the “to-do” list.
His wife and family joined him in celebrating Tuesday night.
“I bragged to all my co-workers all day,” Brent Koch said.
His brother, Darrell Koch, who came up from Blanchester for the ceremony said he would not have missed it.
“It’s cool that the school took the time to do this,” Darrell Koch said. “I don’t think our veterans are honored enough for the sacrifices they made.”
Exchanging an especially meaningful handshake outside the building after the diplomas were presented were Koch and Lillicrap, 57, of Wapakoneta.
Lillicrap, who retired in 2006 after 33 years with the U.S. Postal Service and has owned his own business, served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War between 1967 and 1979.
He said he decided to enlist at 17 and worked in a number of covert missions.
During his service he earned his GED and later went on to earn two college degrees, but when his grandchildren began asking about his high school diploma, Lillicrap again saw it’s importance.
“I was a good student, but at the time, because of situations at home, going into the service was the best decision for me,” Lillicrap said. “I don’t regret it. I’ve been all over the world. My daughter was born in Germany. But this was still important to me.”
Lillicrap said earning his GED was fine, but he wanted the diploma.
“I always heard that kids are more apt to better themselves if their parents and grandparents did,” Lillicrap said as he looked his diploma over with his family. “I can’t stress the importance of a diploma to them if I don’t have one.
“This is what I always wanted,” he said, sharing the moment with his wife, Brenda, and the grandchildren who served as his inspiration, Jeffrey Leonard, 12, and Darien Leonard, 9.
|
|
Last Updated ( Thursday, 10 April 2008 )
|
| | ...I love the "small town" charm and sense of community I feel when I run into my father at Community Market or my Mother-in-Law at Walmart or one of my sisters at the gas station! Tracy Anderson - Wapakoneta
|
| | |
|
|  |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
