LINDEN (AP) — A D-Day veteran who missed his high school graduation was among the graduates at a north Jersey high school.

World War II veteran Donald Marks (L), 90, and Herman Zeitchik, 90, both of Maryland, greet one another during the 70th anniversary D-Day commemoration at the WWII Memorial in Washington D.C
World War II veteran Donald Marks (L), 90, and Herman Zeitchik, 90, both of Maryland, greet one another during the 70th anniversary D-Day commemoration at the WWII Memorial in Washington D.C. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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Herman Zeitchik didn't walk with his Linden High School class in 1944 because he had enlisted in the Army.

The high school's marching band was performing in the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington last month when the 90-year-old Silver Spring, Maryland, resident told some parents about growing up in New Jersey and playing clarinet in the band.

A band official returned to New Jersey and called Zeitchik after looking him up in the old yearbooks. Zeitchik explained that his parents had received his diploma because he was already in the Army during his senior year

The school invited him back to receive an honorary diploma during Friday's ceremony.

 

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