After 78 years of waiting, 97-year-old WWII veteran finally got his high school diploma

(CNN) — One precocious schoolhouse successful Tacoma, Washington, precocious honored a erstwhile pupil who wasn’t capable to get his diploma 78 years ago.

Ernie Reda is not lone a World War II veteran, but present an alumnus of Stadium High School, which is located connected Commencement Bay.

Ernie was sent to footwear campy successful 1943, which was expected to beryllium his graduating year.

From there, helium fought successful the Battle of the Bulge and took portion successful the Normandy Invasion, his lad Dave Reda told CNN.

Since helium missed retired connected getting his diploma, Ernie’s granddaughter, Heather Anderson, had been reasoning for astir 2 years astir however to springiness her gramps that recognition.

“It had crossed my mind; it had crossed each of ours minds, but she (Heather) conscionable stayed aft it,” Dave told CNN.

Then astatine the opening of December, Anderson contacted the main of Stadium High, Shannon Marshall.

She asked if the schoolhouse would beryllium funny successful participating in “Operation Recognition,” a programme started by Veterans Affairs. It works to admit those who were drafted and incapable to decorativeness precocious school.

Right distant Marshall knew this was thing she and the schoolhouse wanted to beryllium a portion of, “It seemed similar the astir honorable happening to do,” Marshall told CNN.

On Dec. 20, the ceremonial was held successful the archetypal auditorium of the school, which has been determination since 1906.

“It was the top happening successful my life,” Ernie told CNN, “The champion Christmas present.”

Four retired of 5 of Ernie’s children were there, on with different extended household members, Dave told CNN.

Speeches were precise akin to those fixed astatine a emblematic graduation for the school, with a fewer bits of rewording to acceptable the Veterans Affairs standards.

While the hold was decades-long, Ernie was delighted to yet get that paper. “78 years aboriginal I got it,” Ernie said. “It’s astir clip I did!”

He was besides fixed 1 of the 2 remaining copies of the 1943 Stadium yearbook, which the schoolhouse felt was important to springiness to him.

When Ernie was discharged successful December of 1944, helium remembers disembarking the vessel astir a mile from Stadium High School, Dave told CNN. “It’s the archetypal happening I saw,” Ernie told CNN affiliate KING5.

Marshall explained that Ernie is inactive a arrogant Stadium Tiger and erstwhile helium arrived helium chanted the schoolhouse colors — bluish and gold.

And portion this is the archetypal seasoned the schoolhouse has honored done the program, Marshall says this volition surely not beryllium the last. “It was truly a rewarding time and was truthful peculiar for everyone,” She noted.