NO. 118.  AN ACT RELATING TO HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS FOR WORLD WAR II VETERANS.

(H.708)

It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:

Sec. 1.  FINDINGS

The General Assembly finds:

(1)  This act is intended to honor veterans of World War II who never completed their secondary education. 

(2)  The awarding of high school diplomas to World War II veterans does not diminish, in any manner, the extraordinary sacrifices which the veterans of more recent military conflicts have made on our nation’s behalf.

(3)  This act can serve as a model for future legislatures to honor the veterans of more recent military conflicts when a suitable span of time has passed between the conflict’s conclusion and the adoption of authorizing legislation.

(4)  On December 7, 1941, planes of the Japanese Air Force attacked the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, marking the first time a foreign military force had attacked American territory since the War of 1812.  In response to this attack, the United States declared war against Japan, and, soon thereafter, the Axis Powers. 

(5)  As a result of these declarations of war, the nation’s youth of that era, who have since been lauded as the greatest generation of Americans, was mobilized, and served our country valiantly with pride and distinction.  The courage of these young Americans assured a resounding United States military victory in the nearly four-year-long conflict that preserved our nation’s freedoms.

(6)  As this generation was discharged from military service in 1945 and 1946, many of these veterans, who had delayed marriage and starting families because of their World War II military obligations, immediately entered the workforce.  In that era, when technical knowledge was not as essential an occupational commodity as it is in the 21st century, many of these veterans elected not to complete their high school education.

(7)  Over half a century has elapsed since VE and VJ Days.  These World War II veterans have largely retired from their careers, and are now senior citizens whose numbers are rapidly decreasing.

(8)  It is fitting for the state of Vermont to honor the remaining members of the greatest generation by awarding those who did not complete their secondary education an official high school diploma to symbolize, in a small way, the gratitude of all Vermonters for the sacrifices endured in order that, today, we can live in freedom.

Sec. 2.  16 V.S.A. § 563(25) is added to read:

(25)  shall, if it is a school board of a school district which maintains a secondary school, upon request, award a high school diploma to any Vermont resident who served in the military in World War II, was honorably separated from active federal military service, and does not hold a high school diploma.  The state board shall develop and make available an application form for veterans who wish to request a high school diploma.

Approved:  June 5, 2002