Veteran Receives High School Diploma 60 Years After Dropping Out to Serve in Navy

A 77-year-old veteran from Texas has received a high school diploma in a special ceremony, 60 years after he dropped out to join the U.S. Navy.

George Philips was surrounded by friends and family as he was presented with his diploma at a Dickinson Independent School District school board meeting on Tuesday evening, Houston Public Media reports. He wore a royal blue gown and cap while junior high school band students serenaded his celebration with “Pomp and Circumstance.”

“We can go to school each day, we can choose which church we want to attend and we can live wherever we want to live because of the continuous sacrifices that have been made by veterans to protect us and to defend our rights,” Dickinson Superintendent Carla Voelkel said at Philips’ celebration, according to Houston Public Media.

Philips was a student at Dickinson High School where he played on the school’s undefeated freshman football team in the 1960s, per the report. He dropped out when he was a junior to serve in the Vietnam War for three years. He was awarded a Vietnam Service Medal and a National Defense Service Medal during his time with the Navy and also took home a GED he attained while serving.

The Dickinson Independent School District organized Tuesday’s celebration for Philips after the Texas veteran shared with a friend that he was regretful that he never received his high school diploma.

That friend, Mary Jane Musick, reached out to school officials after learning that the Texas Education Code allows school districts to issue high school diplomas to veterans who meet a set of criteria.

“Miss Musick is a wonderful friend,” Superintendent Voelkel reportedly said. “She did her research.”

Philips’ son and grandson both followed his footsteps to be football players for the Dickinson Independent School District, according to Houston Public Media.