De Witt – It’s been a cruel twist of fate for graduating seniors in Nebraska High Schools this year. The forced closure of school buildings from the coronavirus pandemic ended too early, what’s supposed to be a time of accomplishment, and some tears.


With a formal commencement ceremony not in the cards at Tri County Public Schools south of Dewitt, Fire and Rescue Departments in DeWitt, Plymouth and Swanton decided to do something about it……hold a parade for the graduating seniors.


"We heard there was a thing going on where people were going to put their porch lights on from 8:20 to 8:40 p.m. to honor the students. And, Tri County decided they would turn their football lights on. A couple of us got together and decided that just wasn't good enough, yet. We wanted to honor our students...you know, the seniors won't get to walk across the stage, they didn't get to have prom...they didn't get to have spring sports, FFA, FBLA, all kinds of things didn't get to happen this year. So, we wanted to have a way to show the kids we appreciate what they do and to honor them for their hard work here at Tri County".


Tim Garrison is with DeWitt Fire and Rescue. Numerous trucks from DeWitt, Plymouth and Swanton Fire Departments lined up in the Tri County school parking lot Monday night, to lead seniors as they drove their cars and trucks on a parade through the school district. It was a way to honor the graduates who wouldn’t get to receive their diplomas the traditional way.


"I got to walk across the stage and I feel bad for kids who don't get to walk across the stage. So, this gives them a little bit of a stage....maybe not the Tri County stage....but a little bit of a stage they can drive through, instead of walk through".


The parade of seniors headed south on Nebraska 103, then west to Plymouth to allow the town’s residents to applaud the graduates. The parade then reversed course, back to Tri County, then north, traveling through the community of DeWitt, before returning to the school.


As part of the event honoring the graduates, Tri County’s Trojan Football stadium was lit up, with its scoreboard and time reading……20-20….and the fourth quarter.


And although its been a challenging end to the year…with social distancing and taking those last classes by learning from home….the Tri-County Seniors got a nice send off to the twilight of their high school careers…..and now…..on to the next challenges.