Members of the high school graduating class of 1974 in Moore, Okla., finally got the chance to walk across the stage and receive their diplomas, nearly 48 years after a tornado disrupted their original commencement ceremony.
The class had gathered in the football stadium under ominous skies back in 1974, only to have their ceremony abruptly canceled as a dangerous storm approached. The tornado never materialized near the stadium, but the day was ruined, and the graduates were left disappointed and soaked.
Fast forward to 2022, and about 200 members of the class of 1974, along with relatives of those who had passed away, gathered for a belated commencement ceremony. The weather was hot and sunny, a stark contrast to the stormy day they had experienced all those years ago.
The Moore Public School District had been finding ways to make amends for students who missed out on their graduation rites, including hosting a ceremony for those affected by the pandemic and memorializing victims of past tragedies.
For Sterling Crim, one of the graduates, the ceremony held special significance. He and his girlfriend at the time, LeAnn Boyd, had moved on to college and started a family, but the lack of a proper graduation ceremony had always lingered in the back of their minds.
Tragically, LeAnn passed away from colorectal cancer three years ago, never getting the chance to see a proper graduation ceremony. For Sterling, the ceremony on Saturday was a way to honor her memory and finally fulfill a promise to himself and his late wife.
The event was a mix of nostalgia, closure, and celebration, as the class of 1974 finally got the chance to walk across the stage, receive their diplomas, and relive a moment that had been taken away from them so many years ago.
