CHICAGO (CBS) — Leo High School in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood is marking Veterans Day early—with an annual tradition that included a special moment more than six decades in the making.
Every year around Veterans Day, students, staff, and alumni honor the graduates of Leo High School, 7901 S. Sangamon St., who put their lives on the line for their country. But in the crowd for the first time this year was one man who never made it across the graduation stage for his Leo diploma—until now.
Sgt. Fredric Arana dropped out of high school to enlist in the Army and leave a volatile home life. Arana served in South Korea and Vietnam—moving through some post-military jobs before turning to an unexpected career in education.
“I heard there was a big shortage of bilingual teachers, and I’m Mexican, I can speak Spanish—so I went into education,” Arana said.
Arana used the GI Bill to take classes part-time—eventually opening Little Village Academy as its first principal.