2019 Graduates

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Seven War Veterans Set to Receive High School Diplomas at 13th Annual Operation Recognition

November 6, 2019

World War II veterans among graduates who abandoned their education to serve their country during time of war

RIVERSIDE – Deceased World War II veteran Vallie Lee Engelauf’s family will accept his high school diploma on November 12, 2019, as part of the Operation Recognition Program. U.S. Navy Coxswain Engelauf was born in Riverside in 1926 and lived in the Rubidoux and Jurupa areas his entire life. During his military service, he was at Iwo Jima and witnessed the raising of the American Flag on Mount Suribachi. Engelauf comes from a family of veterans as he, his older brother George, and father William were inducted into the Veteran’s Memorial Park in Rubidoux in 2013. The awarding of his high school diploma posthumously is Mr. Engelauf’s final honor of distinguished service.

The Operation Recognition Program awards diplomas as a joint effort of the Riverside County Board of Education, the Riverside County Office of Education, and the Riverside County Department of Veterans’ Services. Since its inception in 2007, approximately 360 diplomas have been presented to residents of Riverside County who missed completing high school due to military service in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, or due to internment in WWII Japanese-American relocation camps.

Mr. Engelauf is one of seven graduates who will be honored as part of the Operation Recognition Class of 2019 at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, November 12, at the Moreno Valley Conference Center (14075 Frederick Street, Moreno Valley) as authorized by Education Code Section 51440 and 51430.