Burnet CISD offers belated diplomas to service members who left school early
FROM STAFF REPORTS
BURNET — During World War II, it wasn’t uncommon for a young man to drop out of high school to join the military and serve his country. This practice even took place during other conflicts, from the Korean and Vietnam wars right up to the most recent ones in the Middle East.
What happened, however — especially to World War II and Korean War veterans — was these men tended to find a job and go to work after returning home. Few went back to high school to finish their studies and get their diplomas.
Burnet Consolidated Independent School District officials want to correct that and award belated diplomas to eligible veterans who served their country in the armed forces without finishing Burnet High School or Bertram High School.
And they’ll honor those service members during the Veterans Day ceremonies Nov. 11 at Bertram Elementary School in Bertram and Bulldog Field in Burnet.
To participate in the Veterans Day program, eligible veterans need to complete an application (available at www.burnet.txed.net) and return it by Oct. 24 with a copy of their discharge notifications (DD Form 214) to the BCISD’s superintendent’s office, 208 E. Brier St., Burnet, TX 78611.
Applications may be mailed in or dropped off.
The Oct. 24 deadline only applies to those veterans interested in being included in the Nov. 11 ceremonies. Otherwise, people can return the applications at any time, and the district will mail the diplomas to eligible veterans.
The Texas Education Code allows school districts to issue high school diplomas to any qualified veteran who was scheduled to graduate from high school after 1940 and before 1975 or after 1989 and left school after completing sixth grade or higher (but before graduating) to serve in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War, the Iraq War and the war in Afghanistan as well as other certain engagements.
Call the BCISD superintendent’s office at (512) 715-5120 for more information.
editor@thepicayune.com