Bonus Post: Fond Memory 2 (LHS Quadranscentennial Celebration Edition)

Fond Memory 2

on this, the Quadranscentennial Celebration of 

my Lebanon High School Graduation: 

8 more days.  Well ... kind of.*

(*Let's get the elephant out of the room.  Although news broke earlier that the Saturday night event was postponed for now, the surrounding weekend activities are still on ... and the out of towners I've been counting on seeing are still heading home in eight days...)

That news aside ... tonight's fond memory 2 is of getting to say the closing prayer at graduation.  Fun fact ... it may have been the last year it happened, as I recall a certain Supreme Court decision of that era may have banned such a thing at future graduations.

Just for fun ... here's the text (captured in the special graduation program booklet pictured below, which also has contributions from Lynn S, Wendy W, Lucy K, Fred F and Ellen L, should anyone want to know what it was that they said 25 years ago).  Funny enough, a quarter century later, and I still think I sound (and write) the same way ...

Dear Heavenly Father:

We, the graduating class of 1989, come before Your presence tonight, praising You for the years behind us.

As we gaze through the looking glass of our lives, we are continually reminded of Your presence in every aspect.  We thank You for the support system we have had in the past - parents, who led us through trying times to the point where we are today; devoted teachers, who faithfully prepared us for the future awaiting us; caring friends, who were always there to lend a helping hand, a smile, or a shoulder to cry on - and we ask You to touch each of their lives in a special way, as our thanks to them.

We especially ask You tonight to bless each of us who have prepared to make the move to yet another phase of our lives.  Help us to become what we both wish and need to be in order to make the world that we live in a much better and brighter place.  Help us to work to our potential and to be always striving to do even more, keeping in mind both the joys and the sorrows, the love and pain, and all the memories of the past to guide us into the future.

AMEN.

One more post ... in four days ... fond memory #1 will be posted on Mon the 6th!