Our Oldest Graduate

There was one event at Miss Whimsy's graduation that I left intentionally unmentioned in my graduation yakabout the other day.  I left it out because it deserved a post all of its own.

And here it is...

It is the story of our oldest graduate.

After all of the speeches were made and all of the graduates made their memorable strolls across the grass, the principal settled the crowd for one final comment. It was the introduction of a most worthy graduate, an 86 year old World War II veteran who had missed his own high school graduation in 1943 to become a gunner for the Mighty 8th Air Force in the Great War. 

You could have heard a pin drop in the usually rowdy crowd as the principal told of his 32 missions on the B-24, one of which taking place on the night that he would have walked the field with his own classmates... all those many yeas ago.

The man had promised his mother that one day he would go back and get his high school diploma, but time and family and life had gotten in the way. Thanks to the Georgia Legislature, a recent law makes it possible to award high school diplomas to veterans who were inducted to serve during times of war before finishing their high school careers.

Twice during the principal's address, the audience rose to our feet in grateful applause. His mother did not live to see it, but his wife and children and grandchildren and great- grandchildren did.

God bless you, Mr. Livingston.

And, thank you for your sacrifice.

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Join me for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers.