On Thursday, Nov. 10, representatives from the Green Island Union Free School District partnered with the local American Legion to honor veterans and present high school diplomas to those that sacrificed their education to serve in the United States military.
Superintendent Kimberly Ross and Board of Education member Don McManus presented diplomas to the families and friends of seven local service members who left school to fight in World War I and World War II. Three of those soldiers were killed in action.
In addition, several special awards were given to the honored vets, including two New York State Liberty awards, two Purple Hearts, three Bronze Stars and one POW Medal.
The ceremony was held at the Legnard-Curtin American Legion Post #927 in Green Island and was live streamed via Zoom to students at Heatly School.
The seven individuals who received honorary diplomas as graduates of Heatly High School, Class of 1922 are:
- Private Ulysses J. Catman, U.S. Army, World War I, who was killed in action on April 28, 1944, along with 748 of his fellow American soldiers when German U-boats torpedoed their fleet in Lyme Bay. Catman attended Heatly School from 1916-1924, before enlisting in the U.S. Army in May of 1943. Kevin Catman, the great nephew of Private Ulysses Catman, accepted Pvt. Catman’s diploma.
- Private. John E. Gleason, U.S. Army, World War II, who died on Aug. 29, 1942 while being held as a prisoner of war by Japanese soldiers in the Philippines after previously surviving the horrific Bataan Death March. He attended Cohoes Public Schools before enlisting in the National Guard in 1939. Mark Gleason, nephew of Private John E. Gleason, accepted Pvt. Gleason’s diploma.
- Corporal Thomas E. Hedley, U.S. Army, Germany, who was an Honor Guard at Spandau Prison in Germany where he guarded Nazi officials, including Rudolf Hess. He left school after the 10th grade and moved to Menands, before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1958. Joseph Lazzaro, friend of Corporal Thomas Hedley, accepted Cpl. Hedley’s diploma.
- Private Roy E. Marois, U.S. Army, World War II, who was killed in action in the Battle of Hedgerows in Normandy, France on July 11, 1944. He attended Heatly School from 1927-1938, but left before graduating. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on Oct. 28, 1942. Joseph Nolet, Green Island UFSD Board of Education member, accepted Pvt. Marois’s diploma.
- Private James J. Poleto, U.S. Army, World War I, who was deployed to France during World War I and fought in the Battle of St. Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne Campaign. He attended Heatly School before transferring to La Salle Institute in Troy, where he ended up leaving prior to graduation. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in September of 1917. Jane Poleto, daughter of Private James Poleto, accepted Pvt. Poleto’s diploma.
- Private John J. Shook, U.S. Army, World War II, who was deployed to the New Guinea Campaign as a Heavy Machine Gunner in World War II. He went to Watervliet Public Schools before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1942. Steve Shook, son of Private John Shook, accepted Pvt. Shook’s diploma.
- Joan Shannon, U.S. Army, Pentagon, who was employed by the Pentagon and worked with classified documents throughout the course of her career. She was a student at Heatly High School, but left before graduation due to her family moving to Westhaven, Connecticut in the spring of 1947. Miss Shannon was unable to attend the event, therefore her honorary high school diploma from Heatly School will be mailed to her.
