After 70 years, veteran gets his diploma
Charles Sharfenberg went to Monroeville, Norwalk schools.
MONROEVILLE — It took more than 70 years, but Charles Sharfenberg finally received the high school diploma he earned back in 1947.
Sharfenberg started his school years in Monroeville Local Schools. He remembers when the “new” school was built and how he got to attend second grade in the building. He was there for two more years before his family moved to Norwalk and he changed districts.
“I went there and I was supposed to have graduated,” he said.
“But then there seemed to be some confusion and I didn’t get my diploma. So I came back over to Monroeville and came here for a year. Then my next year came up . ... They wouldn’t give (the school credits) to me, so then I went in the military.”
Sharfenberg served in the U.S. Air Force from 1950 through 1953. He turns 90 in May.
“When I was in the service I explained all this to one of the lieutenants or colonels,” he said. “He told me, he said you went long enough. You don’t have to go anymore. When you go home you can get it. When I came home I came in to get it and it wasn’t signed. They said come back. So I came back another time — still wasn’t signed. Three times I went back and it was never signed. I said I think you want mine more than I do. So I never went back. I’ve thought about it a lot since then though.”
After Monday’s Monroeville school board meeting, Sharfenberg didn’t have to think about it any more.
The board and neighbor, Robin Welch, surprised him with his very own “graduation.”
Welch, who also works as a behavior consultant for all area school districts, said “the Lord has to forgive” her for telling Sharfenberg he was coming for another friend’s award presentation.
“We’ve been talking about this for years,” Welch said. “Around Thanksgiving I saw something on TV about someone getting their diploma (later in life) and I thought I have a meeting over in Monroeville with the superintendent and thought, ‘Well, by golly, I’ll just ask.’ I don’t know why I never thought of it.
“We asked and it’s been killing us; this was supposed to be his Christmas present,” Welch said. “I told him his Christmas present didn’t cost me any money. It took a long time to get it ordered though. Then because of the break, the board meetings were off schedule. So we’ve all had to wait and it’s been driving us crazy.”
Welch said though the wait was well worth it after seeing the shock on her neighbor’s face.
High school Principal James Kaczor and Superintendent Ralph Moore said it was “an honor” to give him the diploma he earned so long ago.
“He went to Monroeville High School quite some time ago,” Kaczor said. “Because of duty calling and that would be the duty to his country, he chose to go into the military. Obviously that is something these days that we hold very special, even with our students today. It is our honor and privilege to offer a diploma to Mr. Sharfenberg.”
The principal told him he was “an Eagle forever.”
After he got over the initial shock, Sharfenberg was all smiles.
“I feel giddy,” he said. “You watch the news and you see some old person get (a diploma), I always thought, you know every time I see that, I wish I would have gone back and looked into it further, but I never did. (This) is special,” he said.
His wife of 65 years, Nancy, said she couldn’t be more happy for her husband.
“I’ve heard for so many years (how much he’s been) wanting it and never being able to get it,” she said. “It’s as proud of a moment for me as it is him.”
Sharfenberg’s friends and neighbors, three great-grandsons, granddaughter and son all gathered after the meeting for a special graduation party, like any graduate would have.