CHARDON -- Some Chardon High School Seniors put the cap and gown on a day early for the Baccalaureate Service at Chardon United Methodist Church.
The service is a spiritual farewell to high school and a year that filled the community with sadness and unity.
"It's just nice to graduate with all my friends," said senior Kyle Meire. "It's been a long venture, but we got through it together."
"A scary, exciting feeling," said Andrew Vance. "Mixed emotions."
Students performed fitting tribute songs like "Lean On Me."
A group of seniors did a live rendition of student-written Chardon Tribute Song "Monday Mourning."
"We're never going to forget it, said senior Maranda Bailo. "But we can move on and graduate. Everyone who has gone through a hard time can understand that. We can all come together as one and finish the year off really well."
For a community that has been through so many sad days, this was not one of them.
WKYC-TV