Milwaukee veteran honored with Lifetime Achievement Award

MILWAUKEE -- The head of Wisconsin's Department of Veterans Affairs, John Scocos, presented Milwaukee veteran Clarence Garrett with the "Veteran Lifetime Achievement Award" at Garrett's Milwaukee home Wednesday, June 20th.

The award recognizes living Wisconsin veterans who are state residents and who have compiled a record of exemplary service as a military service member, a veteran and a citizen during the veteran`s lifetime.

Garrett served in the military for 36 years! He is the first African-American to ever receive this award.

The proclamation for Garrett states that at the age of 33, he began his quest to earn his high school diploma, and then attended college, majoring in Industrial Technology. Garrett later left his dream of becoming a college graduate in order to provide for his family, but later returned to college some 50 years later, attending UW-Milwaukee, where he received his bachelor's degree at the age of 87.

A documentary called "Clarence" was filmed about Garrett's return to college.

Garrett and his wife, Mary, have been together for nearly a half-century.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the "Clarence" documentary.