[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21169]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  IN RECOGNITION OF THE NAPA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION'S ``OPERATION 
                             RECOGNITION''

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 16, 2002

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a 
new program being implemented in California's Napa Valley. Operation 
Recognition grants high school diplomas to persons who were unable to 
complete high school due to World War II, the Korean War or Japanese 
American internment. Diplomas will be presented November 9, 2002 at the 
California Veteran's home in Yountville.
  From September 16, 1940 to December 31, 1946 and from June 25, 1950 
to January 31, 1955 millions of high schoolers were not thinking about 
the prom or their upcoming graduations. Instead these high school 
students were sleeping in fox holes, being shot at on foreign battle 
fields and fighting to defend the freedoms of the United States of 
America.
  Mr. Speaker there is no doubt that our veterans are heroes. When our 
country called on them for protection and dedication during war they 
answered the call and gave us all they had. Too often this included 
sacrificing their lives. For most of the veterans who did return home 
reenrolling in high school was not a plausible option, rather they 
entered the job force and were forced to accept that their educational 
pursuits had come to a screeching halt.
  Mr. Speaker, Operation Recognition gives back to our veterans what 
they rightfully deserve--but never had the opportunity to attain--their 
high school diplomas. A diploma is more than a piece of paper it is a 
treasure, one no nation, military or individual can take away. More 
than anything, Mr. Speaker, Operation Recognition seeks to give back to 
our veterans a piece of their lives that was taken from them for a 
time. Thanks to this program, that time is over.
  Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate at a time when we are increasingly 
calling on our service men and women to protect America that we 
acknowledge Operation Recognition for the outstanding hope, joy and 
educational satisfaction it is bringing to our nation's beloved heroes 
by presenting them with the high school diplomas they so richly 
deserve.

                          ____________________