DIXFIELD – Sixty-two seniors and a surprised Korean War veteran from Peru left Dirigo High School with diplomas Friday night.

Left behind were plenty of memories from four unforgettable years of high school, seniors Amanda Law and Sheena Hanmer said.

Senior Marc Gagne, who delivered the commencement speech, said, “Each and every senior sitting behind me today has the power, the drive and the stamina to lead a successful – and more importantly, happy – life.

“We learned that passion for living here, in this school, within this community, and we will never forget it,” he said.

Law and Hanmer opened graduation night, waxing historical on the tragedies, sorrows and triumphs of the Class of 2004.

At the start of their freshman year, Hanmer said, they were all devastated when Principal David Cox died suddenly. Then, shortly after his successor, Dan Hart, arrived, Law said the class had to cope with another tragedy.

“The terrorists’ attacks of Sept. 11 scared not only our class but the entire nation, leaving everyone worried about what the future might bring,” Law said.

But, she added, as America began to recover, the class understood and accepted the fact that war was inevitable.

“With the conflicts abroad constantly in the back of our minds, we had to continue our journey through high school,” she said.

The class excelled at sports and academics in their junior and senior years, they both said, being the high school’s first class to participate in the new football program, a joint varsity venture with Buckfield High School.

Senior Ashton McLaughlin said, on the behalf of her classmates, “Thanks for showing us the way and giving us a push whenever we needed one.”

Before handing out diplomas, Hart conducted a special presentation, extolling the virtues of Korean War veteran Glen C. Tompkins of Peru and his work with the Class of 2004.

Tompkins, Hart said, joined the Army at the age of 17 to work in radio communications, and was honorably discharged in March 1951.

Tompkins walked toward Hart at center stage as the crowd of hundreds gave the veteran a standing ovation. Tompkins then got a big hug from his two granddaughters, seniors Elizabeth and Michelle Hebert.

No words were spoken. The grandfatherly hug said it all.

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