WW II Veteran Edward Schaum Receives A Commack HS Diploma

91 year-old WW II Veteran Edward Schaum receives a Commack HS diplomaThe Commack School District Board of Education presented 91 year-old World War II Veteran Edward Schaum with a Commack high school diploma. The presentation was a surprise for Mr. Schaum and came about when his daughter Susan Felberbaum a Commack resident told Debbie Virga, community relationships consultant for the district, about her father, an Army Veteran, who told her “that he always regretted not graduating from high school.” As a teenager Mr. Schaum worked to support his family and at the age of 19 enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served from 1944 until 1946. 

Mr. Schaum served 11 months in the European and Pacific Theatres of Operations, supervised a squad in the tactical employment of weapons, and was responsible for control and coordination of machine gun squads.  He was awarded two battle stars and the combat infantryman’s badge. 

Edward Schaum and daughter Susan FelberbaumMr. Schaum finds out he is receiving a Commack HS diplomaMr. Schaum appeared stunned as Donald James, Superintendent of Schools  talked about the man they were going to present with a Commack HS Diploma. The audience was teary eyed as were Susan Felberbaum and Debbie Virga. Mr. Schaum, who was in a wheel chair in the audience stood and walked up to High School Principal Leslie Boritz who presented him with Commack High School Diploma.

“Unbelievable” is how Mr. Schaum described the event.