TOLEDO, Ohio — We honor veterans on Nov. 11 every year to show our thanks for what they did to protect the country.
But for one particular veteran, this year's commemoration will stand out from the rest.
Veterans Day was a big surprise for 99-year-old Walter Hoepf, a World War II veteran.
"We're able to award a full diploma from Calvert Catholic Schools that he doesn't know about yet, so we're going to surprise him with that today," Calvert Catholic's head of school, Jeremy Marinis said.
He said Hoepf's daughter, Theresa Hoerig, first called the school asking for just an honorary diploma to give her father, however, Marinis had a better idea in mind.
"In the state of Ohio, if you leave high school and enter the service and are honorably discharged, you have earned a high school diploma," Hoerig said.
The school held a prayer service at Calvert Catholic Elementary followed by a special recognition.
During the service, Hoepf stood with other veterans and the community as performances were put on by the school.
At the end of the service, Hoepf was awarded his diploma and was applauded, a true surprise for him as he sat in shock after they called his name and handed over the diploma.
"Never expected to graduate but I never got done learning either," Hoepf said.
Hoepf left Calvert High School after his sophomore year to help his family farm.
He was then drafted into the U.S. Army in December of 1943, serving the country for two years before being honorably discharged.
He married his wife in 1946, having 15 children.
Heopf now has 39 grandchildren, 81 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.
Two of them currently attend Calvert Catholic schools.
"He's just a lifelong Seneca County resident who believes in strong morals, values, and it's just a true honor that we're able to bestow this distinction upon him today," Marinis said.
"I'm excited, happy because he's well deserved of this honor and diploma," Hoerig said.
"Overwhelmed but gratitude to everybody who had anything to do with this," Hoepf said.