Thursday, June 18, 1998 — Two former Verdugo students who were unable to participate in the graduation ceremonies of their own classes due to World War II, donned cap and gown and walked across the stage to graduate with the Class of 1998.

Mabel Tsumori Abe, 75, was the Student Body Secretary and a few months from graduation when, in the Spring of 1942, she and her family were relocated to the Merced Internment Camp because they were of Japanese extraction. The 17-year-old received her high school diploma in a horse stable at the relocation center. Mabel remained in the community, working and raising three sons who also graduated from Verdugo — Greg (1972), Geoffrey (1974), and Tim (1975).

In 1945, Gilbert Ceferatt, now 70, enlisted in the US Navy at age 17 six months before he was to graduate with his class. The one-time Verdugo track star served in the Pacific Theater before returning to an eventual 38-year career with Lockheed Aircraft. Gil is an avid pilot and author of two books on aviation history.

Both were invited to participate in the 1998 graduation ceremony by principal Gary Turner when he found out about their respective circumstances after meeting them during Verdugo's 60th Anniversary celebration.

"I've waited a long time for this," Mabel told the cheering crowd as she held her diploma aloft.

The event had unexpected consequnces after it received major coverage from CNN, the Los Angeles Times, all the major networks and television stations in Los Angeles, and two newspapers in Tokyo. Many newspapers across the country also picked up the Associated Press wire story.

Over the next two months Mabel received hundreds of letters and, as a result, was reunited with several friends whom she had not seen since her days at the internment camp.

Congratulations Mabel and Gilbert!