World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veteran, Jack Milton, was in for a surprise when he thought he was attending a celebration for his 100th birthday and his contributions to the University of Maryland Global Campus. Instead, he received his long-overdue graduation ceremony.
Milton, who enrolled at the University of Maryland Global Campus in the 1960s while working at the Pentagon, missed his original graduation ceremony because he was called to serve in Vietnam. Despite earning enough credits for his bachelor of arts degree, he never formally received his diploma.
President Gregory Fowler of the University of Maryland Global Campus presented Milton with his diploma and graduation cap, several decades after it was supposed to happen. Milton, who spent 31 years in the Air Force and was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross, expressed his gratitude for the ceremony, calling it the “finale of a long journey in education.”
Milton and his wife, Symantha Milton, have remained involved in the University of Maryland Global Campus community, supporting programs for active military and veterans. In 2010, they established the John L. and Symantha Milton Scholarship Fund, which benefits volunteer caregivers of injured military servicemembers.
The heartwarming story of Jack Milton’s belated graduation ceremony serves as a reminder of the sacrifices and contributions made by veterans like him.
