Twenty eight years ago, Waymon Bracey Jr. missed out on the pomp and circumstances of his high school graduation. He was half a unit short in U.S. History.

On Sunday, he basked in the traditional graduation hymn as he walked across the podium to pick up his GED certificate. He is a high school graduate.

Bracey, who lives in Cape Girardeau, is one of 108 people who earned their high school equivalency through the Cape Girardeau Area Vocational-Technical School's adult basic education program.

The ceremony Sunday honored those who passed the milestone.

Bracey joined the military in 1967 and learned skills that helped him get good jobs. "But I didn't feel right," Bracey said.

He was prompted to get his GED because he wants his grandson to stay in school. Bracey has a son in college and a daughter about to start college.

"I had to set an example," he said. "It's important to have your high school diploma. You can't even get a job pushing a broom without one."

With his diploma in hand, Bracey is considering starting a small business. Before he starts, he plans to take some courses at the vocational school to make sure he is prepared.

"I hope I can be an example," he said. "If I can come and get my GED, I hope other people know they can come and get theirs."

Sunday was an important day for Roger Hays of Marble Hill. His wife, his son and his sister all celebrated completion of their GED exams.

"I pushed them a little," Hays admitted.

Hays quit high school and joined the military. One day he was assigned to drive a bunch of soldiers to a GED test. While there he was told to take the test too. He did.

"I've always thought it was important," he said.

His wife, Beckey Hays, agrees. "I got married when I was 16, had a baby by the time I was 17."

The Hays' raise horses on a farm in Bollinger County. But Beckey Hays says she might attend licensed practical nursing school in the future.

Eric Hays quit school last year. "There was a lot going on with the family, and I decided to drop out and get a job," he says.

But Dad wouldn't let him rest until he took the GED test.

Eric Hays wants to attend a vocational computer school. Getting his GED was the first step.

Sherri Godwin, Roger Hays' sister, always wanted a career as a cosmetologist.

"But I got married and got pregnant," she said. "I was working as a dishwasher in a restaurant."

Her dreams of hair dressing had to wait. A high school diploma is required to attend cosmetology school.

As her daughter grew up, Godwin decided she wanted to set a good example and pursue her dream.

Godwin's 71-year-old father pitched in as a babysitter for her 21-month-old son. "My daughter helped me with my homework," Godwin said.

She took the GED course and passed the test. She is set to graduate from the beauty school in March.

Sunday's keynote speaker, Rick Sinclair of Sikeston, earned his high school diploma at night school. He talked about the potential successes that await the graduates.

He works in radio and is preparing to take a better job at a Poplar Bluff radio station.

"You probably could have gone through the rest of your life without a high school diploma," he told the graduates. But their futures are a "whole lot brighter" because of their GED success.