Remembering family and friends

A roundup of notices and services. Look for additional obituaries on this newspaper’s website.

state medals and certificates they earned through their service to their country.

Those that were honored this week participated in World War I, the Vietnam War and their service span the period from 1945 to 1981.

Connery, a Vietnam War veteran, has been battling emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for roughly four years, and he also was recently hospitalized.

“In January, we thought he was gone, then two weeks ago, he had a heart attack,” said Tom Mullins, who helped organize the event in Green Island, which took roughly a year to organize. “He said, ‘I’m still coming to this.’”

“I had my ups and downs, just like everybody else,” added Connery. “I just keep trotting right along. As long as that man [God] sits on my shoulder, I have no regrets.”

Connery and his two brothers were also honored Thursday night as the Grand Marshal’s during the village Memorial Day parade.

Mullins said he wanted to help organize the special event since he feels the veterans deserve to receive their high school diploma.

“It’s important for me because of what was important to the veterans at the time that they made their decision about school and that was: Put country above self. So they left,” he said. “Some of them were able to get their GED when they got back, but for others, they had no choice but to go to work when they got back.”

Connery was dressed in a military uniform that his son recently bought for him to wear during the special occasion.

“He just kept fighting to be here,” said Mullins.

Connery was almost speechless after receiving his diploma and was happy to receive it.

“I can’t explain it in words,” said Connery. “It’s great.”

Connery said he was determined to attend the ceremony so that his family could see him earn his high school diploma.

“I’m glad they could see me get this,” he said. “Years from now, maybe they’ll talk about me. Without a doubt [family is one of the most important things to me.]”