Bennie Lee Dexter attended Bend High School, and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force before graduating with his class in 1964. He never returned home after being taken prisoner in the Vietnam War.

On Friday, Dexter’s sister, Dollie Dexter Raymond, accepted an honorary diploma on behalf of her brother during a Veterans Day assembly at the high school, while students, staff and visiting vets gave Dexter a standing ovation.

“Please note that Bend High never, ever forgot Bennie Lee Dexter,” said Bend High Principal Christopher Reese. “Always a part of the Long Blue Line, and now officially, a graduate.”

Bend High’s annual Veterans Day assembly always focuses on a theme, and Friday spotlighted military personnel classified as missing in action or prisoners of war, including 10 alumni from the school. The name of each former student was read, and a bell was rung in honor during the event.

According to the American Battle Monuments Commission, Dexter was a 21-year-old senior master sergeant in the Air Force, and was taken prisoner on May 9, 1966, near Darlock — now called Dak Lak — in South Vietnam while driving a jeep.

He is presumed dead, and his remains have not been recovered. In a video that played during the assembly, Raymond, 71, said everyone in their class loved her older brother.

The two would have graduated the same year because Dexter was held back in early childhood due to hearing and sight difficulties.

“He was just a real likable guy,” she said. “I don’t say that just because I’m his sister and he didn’t come home; he was just one of those kinds of guys.”

Raymond added in the video that her brother wouldn’t want to be remembered “as a hero that gave his life for his country.”

“I think he would want to just be remembered as a regular guy, who went through the same teenage struggles that every other young man goes through,” she said. “(A person) that had dreams and hopes and wanted to someday have a family, go to college and come home.”

After the assembly, Raymond said she found the assembly moving.

“He would’ve been very proud,” she said. “You have to understand — that’s probably the first time I’ve been back in that gym since my brother and I were there together.”

Another prominent veteran honored was local veterans advocate Dick Tobiason.

Tobiason, a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, two-tour Vietnam veteran, Purple Heart recipient and chairman of the veterans-focused nonprofit Bend Heroes Foundation, received a blue-and-yellow Bend High letterman’s jacket as recognition for being a “champion of all things veteran,” according to event master of ceremonies, fellow veteran and “Voice of the Bears” Bob Shaw.

“During one of our meetings, he disclosed to me that he wishes he could be a Lava Bear,” Shaw said. “Well today, Mr. Tobiason, we’re going to make you an honorary Lava Bear.”

Tobiason graduated high school in Massachusetts.

Tobiason received a lengthy standing ovation when he put on the jacket.

Tobiason said after the assembly that being honored was a “complete surprise,” as he helped organize the assembly and didn’t know he would receive any recognition.

“It’s a real honor to be part of the committee that organizes it, but to be honored as an individual, amongst all my peers, it’s fantastic,” he said.

In a reception hall in Bend High’s auxiliary gym, a fellow veteran remarked to Tobiason, donning the letterman’s jacket, “That’s the best I’ve ever seen you look.”

Tobiason said he was proud of Bend High for continuing to host a large, in-depth Veterans Day assembly each year.

“You cannot beat this school for honoring its veterans and caring about its veterans,” he said.

— Reporter: 541-617-7854, jhogan@bendbulletin.com