War is always hard on the lives of the people who fight in it. During the Vietnam War, when young men were sent to fight and had to leave their families and lives behind, this was especially true.
Many veterans didn’t reach all of their goals, but one story shows that it’s never too late to go after your dreams.
Floyd Covey, who is now 78, was sent to Vietnam when he was a young man. He was sent there so soon after high school that he didn’t even finish.
Covey was in the Army and fought in the war. For his bravery, he was given the Purple Heart. But when he got back to civilian life, he never finished high school, which he said made his mother sad every time.
The website for the Martinsburg VA Medical Center in West Virginia says that Covey recently went there and told a staff member about his regret. The staff member told him to go get his diploma.
He did that with the help of the West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance. Even though he’s about 60 years older than the average age of graduation, it’s better late than never.
He was finally old enough to get a high school diploma, and the Upshur County Board of Education invited him to their May high school graduation. Covey wasn’t able to come because of a health problem.
But instead of letting his big day pass without a ceremony, the VA center held their own graduation for him.
Covey’s brother, VAMC staff, and other veterans were all there for the ceremony.
The Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent of Upshur County Schools, Drs. Sara Stankus and Deb Harrison, came to the ceremony to give Covey his long-awaited diploma.
“When other people in his life were graduating, he wasn’t able to,” Stankus told the Martinsburg VA. “It is our honor to award his well-deserved diploma.”
Tyray Goerke, who works in Nutrition and Food Service, made a cake for Covey to mark the event.
For Covey, it all came back to the woman who inspired it all: “This would mean everything to my Mom,” he told the crowd.
It shows that you can follow your dreams at any age, and that even small things can make a big difference.
Medical Center Director Timothy J. Cooke said, “This day really shows that no act is too small to help make a difference in the lives of our Veterans.” “I’m glad we could all get together to make Mr. Covey’s day special.”
Thank you for your work, and keep doing what you’re doing. So proud! Just goes to show that age is just a number and not a way of being. Boomers never quit! Tell this veteran congratulations on graduating, and please share this story on Facebook.