On Saturday, El Reno High School pulled off what might be one of the most remembered graduations in the school’s history.

The graduating class of 2020 lost about three months of its school year to the COVID-19 pandemic. Something of that nature hasn’t happened since the Spanish Flu Pandemic that plagued the world a century ago.

No doubt countless young men and women missed their senior graduation for many other reasons, but it may be difficult for many to remember when an entire class missed such memorable events such as the prom or participating in spring sports, music competitions and other school-related activities.

Still, on a sun-drenched Saturday morning, some 220 EHS graduates received their high school diploma. Making the event even more memorable was having 19 former El Reno students added to the graduating class.

Before the pandemic hit, the El Reno School Board agreed that the 19 men who lost their lives as a result of service related to World War II would be declared Honorary Posthumous Graduates. The 19 were among the 44 memorialized last fall when Memorial Stadium was rededicated.

Much of the stadium was packed on Saturday, although most kept to social distancing guidelines. Graduates were also seated about 6 feet apart on the stadium field.