A Voice from the Eastern Door
By Shannon Burns
More than forty Akwesasne veterans received a standing ovation Wednesday from hundreds of family members and community members present to witness them receive their state high school diplomas, years after giving up their education to enlist in the armed forces.
Operation Recognition was originally created under Gov. George Pataki to give high school diplomas to World War II veterans. The program has been expanded to include Korean and Vietnam War veterans and this was the first time the recognition ceremony was held for Akwesasne veterans.
Local American Legion officials, tribal chiefs and Salmon River Central School administrators unified Wednesday afternoon – Veteran’s Day – to pay respect to the sacrifice Akwesasne veterans made when giving up their education many years ago.
“Remembering our loved ones is our greatest gift our creator gave us,” said Alma Ransom who helped coordinate the event. “Today we are saying thank you.”
The veterans received a state high school diploma from Salmon River as a well as a commemorative coin specially ordered for them with the emblems of their branch of the armed service.
While many veterans went on to live successful and fulfilling lives despite having left school to enlist, for many of them it might have been the one regret in life they had – not ever receiving the diploma.
“Their life was interrupted and they never looked back,” Ransom said.
American Legion Post 1479 Commander Todd Conners told the veterans, “This is a small token of appreciation. I am honored to have walked the same ground with you guys, I think you’re incredible.”
Conners and Salmon River Superintendent Jane Collins passed out the diplomas and coins to each seated veteran, who stretched across the entire St. Regis Mohawk School gymnasium. When they were finished, the audience gave the men a standing ovation.
The diploma recipients were:
Robert Arquette
Peter Back
Wilbur Barnes
Ludwig Beeson
Patrick Bradley
Patrick Chubb
Barney Cole
Randall Cook
Carl Cook
Alex Cooke
Michael Francis
Leonard Garrow
Ronald Garrow
Arnold Gray
Gary Gray
Edward Herne
Vernon Hopps
David Hopps
Richard Herne
Charles Jacobs
Joseph Jacobs
Edgar Jock
Louis LaFrance
Robert Laughing
Jerry Lazore
Kenneth Lazore
Levi Oakes
Richard Peters
Arnold Printup
Gordon Ransom
Orlo Ransom
Barney Rourke
Nelson Sawatis
Peter Sunday
Harvey Thompson
Kenneth Thompson
Lonnie Thompson
Gerald Waterman
Andrew White
Mike White
Reginald White
Thomas White
The late Chicken Garrow
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