It was standing room only at Rebel Field on a sunny, warm Saturday evening as nearly 410 young men and women became the newest alumni of Effingham County HIgh School. Each member of the class carried a balloon to their seat, and many wrote personal messages on their balloons to commemorate three classmates who were killed in separate auto accidents.

At senior class president Jacoby Jones’ signal, the ECHS graduating class of 2011 let go of their balloons.

A crowd of more than 8,000 jammed into Rebel Field for the commencement exercises.

For more pictures from Effingham County High School’s graduation, visit community.effinghamherald.net.