Never too late
National hero receives local diploma at 87By JOEL CUTHBERT
Article Photos
FORESTVILLE - Walter Burek, 87, finally received his local high school diploma, more than 70 years after attending Forestville Central School.
While in middle school at FCS, Burek dropped out to work the family farm on Ball Hill in the town of Villenova and, later - enlisting the help of his sister who lied about his age - joined the Navy and served his country during World War II. As a result, he never received his high school diploma ... until now.
After serving onboard the USS Shaw in 1941 at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor and earning a Purple Heart in the process, Burek recently earned a long overdue high school diploma.
On May 16, district officials from Forestville Central School visited Burek at his home in Perrysburg to officially present him with a diploma from his newfound alma mater.
"We're certainly proud to present it," Superintendent John O'Connor said afterward. "Mr. Burek has been an American hero; he's been a resident of Forestville and Chautauqua County for a number of years; and we're all very excited to present him with this diploma."
According to Michelle Crowell, one of Burek's granddaughters, he didn't speak English when he began school and was frequently ordered to the corner of the room by his teacher for speaking Polish.
Eventually, he stopped attending - around eighth grade - and began working on the family farm. Several years later, she said, he joined the Navy, thinking he would be relatively safe from conflict.
Unfortunately, such was not the case as Burek ended up witnessing and surviving the first major attack on United States soil - "a date which will live in infamy" and one which would ultimately lead to US involvement in WWII.
"There's a little known law - it's called Operation Recognition - that allows veterans to earn high school diplomas if they left school without graduating as long as they were in a combat zone in either WWII, Vietnam or Korea," O'Connor explained.
According to the New York State Division of Veterans' Affairs Web site, Operation Recognition allows certain veterans to earn high school diplomas if they left school without graduating. Section 305 of the New York State Education Law created Operation Recognition to recognize the dedication and sacrifice of WWII, Korea, and Vietnam veterans who left school before graduation by awarding them a high school diploma.
To be eligible, an applicant must have been a member of the United States Armed Forces and engaged in qualified service during either WWII (Dec. 7, 1941-Dec. 31, 1946), the Korean Conflict (June 27, 1950-Jan. 31, 1955), or the Vietnam War (May 1, 1961-April 30, 1975). In addition, potential recipients must have received a satisfactory discharge and be a resident of New York state.
Of course, Burek was eligible for a diploma per Operation Recognition requirements due to the nature of his service.
Crowell said she first learned about the opportunity provided by Operation Recognition from the vice-principal and guidance counselor at Brocton Central School, where she works as a foreign language teacher. When a date for the actual presentation of her grandfather's diploma was set, she said, it was kept secret from him and came as an extremely pleasant surprise.
"It was truly a fabulous day when it happened," Crowell said. "It means a lot to us because we've all done it and he hadn't, so now he has also ... We're pretty proud."
Burek has five children and 11 grandchildren, she explained, and out of those 11 grandchildren, four are teachers, with three currently teaching right here in Chautauqua County - Brocton, Fredonia and Westfield. It was only fitting for Burek to finally receive his high school diploma, since three of his grandchildren work in local school districts.
"We were able to become teachers because of what he did," Crowell said. "It was the right thing to do to make sure he got what he was entitled to."
Although the diploma could have been presented by any school district within the state, Crowell said her grandfather's diploma was even more significant because it came from the school where he would have graduated from so many years earlier, if circumstances were different.
To learn more about the life and service of Burek, visit www.burekfamily.com and click "read more." For additional information on Operation Recognition, visit www.veterans.state.ny.us/operation-recognition.html or contact the NYS Education Department at (518) 474-8940.
Comments on this article can be sent to jcuthbert@observertoday.com
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BogusBuster
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05-25-09 5:50 PM
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I wonder if Patterson is going to try to tax that diploma somehow.
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BogusBuster
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05-25-09 5:49 PM
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Outstanding !
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