TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2020 | NEWSLEADER.
COM
Staunton News Leader - 06/16/2020 Copy Reduced to 72% from original to fit letter page
Seniors wave to cars during a graduation parade in downtown Waynesboro Saturday. PHOTOS BY LAURA PETERS/THE NEWS LEADER
WAYNESBORO GRADS
GET A BIG SENDOFF
Parade comes before 2-day graduation ceremony
Laura Peters Staunton News Leader
USA TODAY NETWORK
WAYNESBORO – Cars started lining
up in front of Waynesboro High School
Saturday morning just before 10 a.m..
Streamers, balloons, posters and other
decorations were being taped on each
vehicle. People driving by, passing
them, would honk and wave.
Heading further down Main Street,
teenagers clade in purple gowns were
scatted along the sidewalks. A few
clumped together, then another group
across the street, then more further
down the road. Each group had stu-
dents spaced out for social distancing,
some students gathered closer to oth-
ers, but most stayed around six feet
apart.
This was Waynesboro High School
seniors drive-by graduation parade.
Thanks to COVID-19, the pinnacle of the
high school experience was stripped
from these students, but luckily, it was
reimagined by staff, family and friends.
Students are set to officially graduate
next week with a two-day ceremony
starting on June 15.
“Congratulations!” was shouted
from the vehicles as they passed by the
Waynesboro High School graduates.
The sound of a car horn blares and is
drawn out as cars drive by.
“Beeeeeeeeep beeeeep beep,” the car
horn makes. It starts off loud and drib-
bles off.
For almost an hour, it was a constant
stream of cars honking, people cheer-
ing and wave and students smiling.
Copyright � 2020 Staunton News Leader 06/16/2020
June 16, 2020 8:47 am (GMT -4:00)
INDULGE IN LIFE'S
PART OF THE USA TODAY NET
Seniors from Waynesboro High School gather on Main Street in downtown
Waynesboro for a graduation parade on Saturday.
Inside
More Waynesboro parade photos, 3A
“This excitement here... the amount
of people driving through,” Waynes-
boro High School Principal Bryan
Stamm said as he just looked around at
the pure joy he was surrounded by.
He was afraid no one would show up
— especially the students.
“In true teenage fashion, though,
they came at the last minute,” he joked.
Cars would slow down in front of
their children to take a quick photo.
Parents were beaming with pride to see
their children in their cap and gown.
Waynesboro High School “Giant Pride”
flags lined the street.
“This is so exciting,” a school staff
member said.
People on the sidewalk were jump-
ing up and down waving and shouting.
A woman getting her hair done popped
out of the salon to take photos. Cars
blasted music. One vehicle set off con-
fetti cannons, which flew up in the sky
and danced down to the ground looking
like rainbow snow.
“I wish we could provide the tradi-
tional ceremony we all had the chance
to experience growing up,” Stamm said.
“However, we feel as though we have
created an exciting graduation experi-
ence for our seniors, starting with our
parade on June 13, followed by our two-
day ceremony on the 15 and 16. While
this is different, I am excited for our
staff and students to see each other one
more time.”
Have a news tip?
You can reach reporter Laura Peters
at lpeters@newsleader.com . Follow her
@peterslaur .
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Page : A01
Peace ral
calls for
justice,
solutions
Waynesboro leaders
fight against racism
Laura Peters Staunton News Leader
USA TODAY NETWORK
WAYNESBORO - Barbar
marched in Washington, D.C. f
rights in 1963. Now, history is
ing itself and she’s not standin
Lee, among many others,
Saturday at Waynesboro’s Co
tion Park for a peace rally organ
a new group called Unity + Co
sion = Solution.
The event had community sp
from Staunton and Waynesbo
cluding city officials, ministers
board members and other com
groups.
See RALLY, Page 2A
Barbara Lee speaks at a peac
Saturday. LAURA PETERS/THE NEWS
Body found
inside car i
Augusta Co
Brad Zinn Staunton News Leader
USA TODAY NETWORK
STAUNTON – A body found i
car at an Augusta County sh
plaza Sunday afternoon was th
missing man from the Harris
area, the sheriff ’s office said.
Shortly before 4 p.m. in t
block of Laurel Hill Road, wh
Food Lion and other stores are l
a green 2009 Honda believed
been operated by the missing m
spotted in the plaza, the sheriff
said.
Deputies found the decease
in the driver’s seat. He was ide
as 21-year-old Brandon K. R
press release said.
A death investigation is pend
sults from the Office of the Chie
ical Examiner in Roanoke.
Anyone with information co
ed to Reedy’s death is asked to
Inv. Connor Tobin with the A
County Sheriff ’s Office at (540
5333.
 Staunton News Leader - 06/16/2020 Copy Reduced to 79% from original to fit letter page Page : A03

NEWSLEADER.COM | TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2020 | 3A

Waynesboro gives grads a big sendoff

Waynesboro High School seniors gathered on Main Street on Saturday for a graduation parade. Parents, family members and friends drove past honking and
cheering for the graduates. PHOTOS BY LAURA PETERS/THE NEWS LEADER

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