Senator Waugh Introduces "Operation Recognition" Legislation 

Bill would extend honorary diploma program to Vietnam War Veterans 

HARRISBURG – Senator Mike Waugh (R-York) introduced Senate Bill 1047, which amends The Public School Code to allow school districts to award high school diplomas to an honorably discharged veteran who served in the Vietnam War but did not graduate from high school because he or she entered military service. 

Pennsylvania law currently provides for World War II and Korean War veterans to receive honorary high school diplomas if they were unable to graduate due to their military service, but Vietnam veterans have not yet been included in the program. 

“A constituent of mine who is a veteran of the Vietnam War brought this issue to my attention,” said Waugh, “and I felt there was no reason why we shouldn’t extend the same opportunity to Vietnam veterans that is afforded to other veterans.” 

To be eligible for the program, the honorably discharged veteran must have served in the Vietnam War between the dates of November 15, 1961, and March 28, 1973. The honorably discharged veteran must have attended high school between 1958 and 1973 and have been a member of a graduation class between the years 1962 and 1975. 

SB 1047 mirrors the amendments to The Public School Code passed in 2001 and 2002, which respectively, opened Pennsylvania’s “Operation Recognition” program to World War II and Korean War veterans. 

The bill has been referred to the Senate Education Committee.