January 23, 2017 (Henrietta, NY) ─Seven decades after he dropped out of high school to work on his family’s farm and enlist in the Army, World War II veteran Art Gay Jr., a resident of Woodcrest Commons, a DePaul Senior Living Community in Henrietta, was awarded an honorary high school diploma last week by the Churchville-Chili Board of Education.

Gay became eligible for an honorary diploma after participating in a Library of Congress’ Veterans Project. Gay, who attended elementary school in Brockport, has lived most of his adult life in Churchville.

Enlisted in the Army at the age of 18, Gay served in field artillery in Japan where he helped liberate three Japanese islands. His daughter Anna Levitt of Henrietta arranged for him to receive his honorary diploma.

“I’m very happy she went through all she did to make this possible,” Gay said. “I was completely surprised and it’s definitely given me a sense of accomplishment and honor.”

For more information about Woodcrest Commons, please contact Administrator Melissa Brien at (585) 334-1800 or visit us on Facebook.