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Submitted by Diane Gann
BRAY-DOYLE - A special graduation ceremony was held Tuesday for eight World War II
veterans who chose Bray-Doyle as their school.
The veterans, five of whom were present and in their 70s, were moved to tears.
"These gentlemen made a great sacrifice for their country,"
said state Rep. Ray McCarter, who helped push an Oklahoma bill through which recognizes
WWII veterans. To receive a high school diploma,
veterans must have served 18 consecutive months and received an honorable discharge. They
can choose from which school they wish to
receive a diploma. Many choose the school of the community where they reside.
For veterans like John T. Stewart of Duncan, they choose because of family connections.
"Five of my brothers and sisters went to school here,"
he said. Stewart said he wasn't aware of the new law until he attended an Eastern Star
meeting in Marlow recently and a woman asked him
if he would be getting his diploma.
Stewart said he served four years and eight months in the U.S. Army. He joined and served
basic training at Fort Hood, Texas, when he
was only 18 years old. Following basic, Stewart went to Camp McCoy, Wisc., to rebuild the
76th Infantry, then headed to Germany.
He said one of his most vivid memories is that of lying in the snow while there. Receiving
the diploma left him speechless. Tears welled up in his eyes.
"When I watch a movie and it reminds me of then, I cry," he said.
Joining Stewart were Charles K. Brenneis, J.C. Honeycutt, James "Sonny" Terrell
and Bill Payne, who also accepted his brother's Paul J. Payne's
diploma. Unable to attend but also recognized were Harold W. Lindsay and Harold
"Happy" Medcalf. Ann Phillips accepted Medcalf's diploma on
his behalf.
Jack Williams, high school principal, called for a moment of silence during the ceremony.
He told the student body that as they became older,
they would better understand all the veterans have sacrificed.
The honored guests were treated to the National Anthem played by the B-D band and
"America the Beautiful" sung by the choir. Even
Superintendent Kevin McKinley admitted to a bit of emotion during the ceremony.
"It was a privilege to do something like this. Rep.
McCarter established a bill to do this to honor those who fought for our country and our
freedom. It's a privilege to honor these people
and to provide them with the acknowledgement for that which they had given so much,"
said McKinley.
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