Bill to Allow More WWII Vets to Get Diplomas Clears Committee

A bill to make sure more WWII veterans will finally get their long delayed high school diploma has passed its first test. Senator Johnnie Crutchfield, D-Ardmore is author of Senate Bill 900, which seeks to correct a technicality in the law approved last year which inadvertently disqualified some veterans from obtaining their diplomas. The legislation has won approval from the Senate Education Committee.

The original measure required an individual to have served a minimum of 18 consecutive months on active duty or to have been discharged with a service-connected disability between September 16, 1940 and December 31, 1946.

But then I learned of a WWII vet from my district that left high school to join the service. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge, but didnt meet the technical requirements of the bill we approved last year, explained Senator Johnnie Crutchfield, D-Ardmore.

To correct the problem, Senator Crutchfield authored Senate Bill 900, which simply removes language requiring a minimum 18 consecutive months services.

It occurred to me that there were probably other individuals across the state that also had been inadvertently left out because of the way the law was written. That certainly was not our intent. We want to make sure all these Oklahoma heroes get the recognition they are due. Making sure that after all these years they finally get their diplomas is a very meaningful way to express our states gratitude for their sacrifices and their service, said Senator Crutchfield.

SB 900 will now be considered by the full Senate.