Green Island UFSD is leading the way in a regional initiative that has now reached as far north as Plattsburgh, by awarding over 55 high school diplomas to local veterans, and more in the queue with their high school partnership with Watervliet CSD. This partnership is not just about the spirit of the future, it is unlocking the past to honor local heroes.
A large component of this work is Mr. Tommy Mullins, a retired Cohoes CSD social studies teacher who taught for over 30 years, who now volunteers his time at Green Island UFSD, assisting in Pre-K gym and leading the village’s crucial summer program at the park. Mullins also works through the Rev. Francis Kelley society, an organization honoring a Cohoes veteran, where he assists over 10 local school districts in awarding high school diplomas to local veterans.
Green Island UFSD leads the way in this effort, with over 55 of the 92 diplomas awarded through their system that aligns with the State Education Department’s Operation Recognition program.
Operation Recognition honors veterans who left high school before graduating in order to serve the country in the military. The experiences and skills learned in defense of freedom give veterans unique knowledge and special insight. These honorary high school diplomas reflect their community’s pride and gratitude for their sacrifice and bravery.
“Veterans do not talk about their stories,” said Mullins, “They diminish their role in the war, and their families many times do not know the full extent of heroic actions and duty their relatives provided for our country.”
For Green Island, a village that barely covers one square mile of land and water, the sacrifice is staggering: 22 Purple Hearts discovered from Green island residents, 22 Conspicuous Service Crosses awarded, and 55 diplomas facilitated for Green Island veterans.
“Patriotism runs very high in small communities,” says Mullins, “These were the rural and village kids who left school in 8th grade to support their families during the Great Depression, and then went straight to war. When they returned, they were mature and skilled, so they did not return to high school to graduate, and instead went directly into the work force.”
Green Island UFSD keeps records of attendance going back to 1906, which Mullins and his team use to track down possible recipients and their families for these awards and diplomas.
This past year, Green Island UFSD began tuitioning high school students to Watervliet CSD. During the planning and implementation of this shift, both Dr. Stevens (Watervliet CSD Superintendent) and Dr. Kalbfliesh (Green Island UFSD Superintendent) made it a priority to preserve and combine community initiatives, including the veteran’s diploma program. Both districts worked together to research, approve, and present diplomas to local WWI, WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans. Many of these are awarded posthumously, with 2nd or 3rd generation Green Island residents accepting the awards on their ancestors’ behalf.
The most recent diploma was accepted by Green Island UFSD Special Education Teacher, Erica Legault, for her grandfather Phillip E. Gross Sr. He served in the Army during the Korean War.
“My grandfather left school to serve our country during the Korean War, putting his duty before his diploma,” says Erica. “To see our community recognize that sacrifice all these years later is deeply meaningful. It reminds me that Green Island values service, history, and the people who helped shape the freedoms we have today. This honor doesn’t just acknowledge an academic milestone, it acknowledges his courage, his sacrifice, and the legacy he left behind. Being able to accept this diploma for him connects generations and reinforces how strong and supportive our community truly is. It makes me proud to be part of a place that remembers, honors, and gives back to those who gave so much.”
Erica’s grandfather’s diploma was one of the final diplomas awarded by Green Island UFSD before the shift of high schoolers to Watervliet CSD.
Superintendent Kalbfliesh said, “It is so humbling to see the effects of such a unique program. For the last diploma to be awarded to a current employee’s relative is something truly special. It’s great to see this program continue on with Watervliet and expand across the region.”
This program of honoring veterans with diplomas has been incredibly successful, to the point that a model of the program has reached the North Country. Green Island UFSD and Mr. Mullins are now assisting other districts, such as Willsboro/Plattsburgh, to replicate the system to honor their local heroes.
Superintendent of Willsboro CSD Dr. Justin Gardner said, “When Mr. Mullins reached out to us, we were truly honored to be a part of something so meaningful. Recognizing the veterans who sacrificed so much for our country is something we believe every community can benefit from. We worked closely with Green Island UFSD to better understand the process, and their experience with the program was a tremendous help in guiding us along the way. What made this experience truly special, though, was discovering that the family accepting the diploma on behalf of their veteran is one of our own, an employee right here at Willsboro CSD whose father is the hero being honored. That unexpected connection reminded us that these stories aren’t just history. They’re alive in our schools and our communities every day.”
“The school supports the community, and the community supports the school,” said Green Island UFSD Superintendent Dan Kalbfliesh, “We are glad to bring local history forward by bringing veterans’ stories to light.”
The awards and diplomas are presented at Green Island’s local American Legion, during their annual “Green Island Salutes Its Veterans” event.
Green Island UFSD is proving that a school’s impact extends far beyond its classroom walls. By building bridges with neighboring districts and mentoring communities with similar stories, Green Island UFSD has created a model of regional partnership that honors the past while opening doors for the future. One thing remains clear: in this small community, no sacrifice is forgotten, and every resident, from the youngest student to the oldest veteran, has a place to belong. By leveraging local expertise to research veteran history and partnering with Watervliet to award these honorary diplomas, the district is fulfilling its mission to ‘optimize the engagement of all school community members,’ ensuring that resources are used efficiently to honor the past while strengthening the community’s future.
