TRR photo by David Hulse (Click for larger image)

Finally…

ELDRED — Last week, Eldred resident and World War II veteran Wallace W. Fisher finished something he started more than 60 years ago … high school.

Through a state program called “Operation Recognition,” in the last year New York high schools have been able to award diplomas to service veterans who had not finished because of their service during World War II.

Fisher, now 86, left Morris High School in his native Bronx to join the service in 1943. He served in the Pacific for two and a half years, but never finished school upon his return.

On May 9, with his wife Frances and fellow VFW members Joe McDonald and Paul Zimmerman on hand, Fisher received his diploma from Morris at the monthly meeting of the Eldred Central School Board.

Fisher’s was the fourth such diploma awarded to area veterans.