War always has a negative impact on the lives of the soldiers engaged. This was particularly true during the Vietnam War, when young men were recruited and sent to battle, leaving their families and lives behind.
It left a few aspirations unmet for many veterans, but as one example shows, it’s never too late to achieve your lifetime desires.
Floyd Covey, now 78, was recruited into the Vietnam War when he was a young man—so young that he didn’t even finish high school before going overseas.
During the war, Covey served in the Army and was awarded the Purple Heart for his valor. But, after returning to civilian life, he never finished high school, which he said constantly upset his mom.
According to the medical center’s website, Covey was recently in the Martinsburg VA Medical Center in West Virginia and voiced his remorse to a staff worker, who urged him to go earn his graduation.
That’s exactly what he accomplished, with the help of the West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance. While he is almost 60 years over the typical graduation age, it is better late than never.
He was eventually qualified for a diploma, and the Upshur County Board of Education welcomed him to their May high school graduation. Sadly, Covey was unable to attend due to a medical issue.
Rather than ignoring his big day, the VA center chose to host their own graduation ceremony for him. Covey’s brother, VAMC personnel, and fellow veterans attended the event.
The Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent of Upshur County Schools, Dr. Sara Stankus and Dr. Deb Harrison, attended the event to present Covey with his long-awaited graduation.
At a time in his life when others were graduating, he was unable to, Stankus stated. It is their pleasure to present his well-deserved certificate.
Tyray Goerke, a Nutrition and Food Service employee, created a cake for Covey to commemorate the event.
It all came back to the lady who motivated it all for Covey- this would mean everything to his Mom, he told the audience.
It only goes to demonstrate that you can follow your ambitions at any age—and that simple gestures may have a great impact.
This day truly demonstrates that no gesture is too little to contribute to making an impact on the lives of the Veterans, stated Medical Center Director Timothy J. Cooke. He is delighted they were all able to join together to make Mr. Covey’s day memorable.
78-Year-Old Vietnam War Veteran Receives High School Diploma#BECowboy 78-year-old Floyd Covey is finally a high school graduate, decades after serving in the Vietnam War. The Purple Heart recipient says he made his mom proud. (Credit: TODAY.com)
Posted by PBR on Sunday, 14 July 2019
Thank you for your service, and please continue to do so! So pleased! Just goes to show that age is a number, not a state of being! Boomers never give up! Please congratulate this soldier on his graduation and share this amazing story on Facebook!
