By Hector Flores
"For me I can at least say that I got my diploma," Barbosa said. "The others who were foolish not to get it will feel weird when their grandchildren graduate high school. I can finally say that I got it."
Barbosa's high school diploma was made possible with the help of New York state's Operation Recognition program. The program awards high school diplomas to World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War veterans who attended New York schools but were unable to finish high school due to their military service.
New York state Assemblyman David McDonough, a Republican of Merrick, said that the program recognizes the service of veterans and the education they obtained during their time with the military and throughout their lives. "Operation Recognition is a program designed to thank the many veterans who sacrificed their high school education to serve their country," McDonough said. "Many veterans had to forgo their education, first to defend their country, then to support their family when they returned home. Awarding them this diploma is a way of saying thank you to those who have sacrificed so much for us all."
Barbosa remembers how difficult it was to return to school after his military service, from 1941 to 1947, was done. "I was only 16 when I joined the Navy," he said. "When I got out, I immediately started to work."
Barbosa said that he applied for many federal and state jobs, and was required to take a test every time he applied. "I kept taking tests and got into the right job," he said.
As a civilian, Barbosa worked for the Republic Airport, the Long Island Rail Road, Grumman Aerospace and the Transit Authority. During his tenure at Grumman, he was part of a team that built the Lunar Excursion Module that landed on the moon on July 20, 1969.
In 1993, three years after his retirement from the Transit Authority, he and his wife, Marie, moved to the East Meadow Knolls.
Although Barbosa had an impressive career, he still longed to get his high school diploma. It wasn't until a couple of months ago that his dream finally came true, thanks to the Operation Recognition. He learned of the program through the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2736 in East Meadow, where he is a member. With the help of his daughter, Bonnie, Barbosa filled out all the necessary paperwork needed to obtain his diploma.
"For the process I had to send a copy of his discharge papers and where he went to school," Bonnie said. "Two months later he received a letter from [Gov. George] Pataki with his high school diploma."
On July 17, during the VFW post's monthly meeting at Christ the King Church, McDonough and fellow assemblyman Rob Walker, a Republican of Hicksville, presented Barbosa with his diploma.
Sal Paligrino, commanding officer of the VFW, said that many of the vets were happy to see Barbosa finally get his diploma. "This is a great honor," Paligrino said. "Gerry is one of the few veterans who was in Pearl Harbor and Normandy. He is not looking for a million dollars all he wanted was his diploma."
Comments about this story? HFlores@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 283.
