FORT MEADE, Fla. — Residents in Fort Meade who were sensitive to how the coronavirus pandemic had halted many activities high school seniors traditionally enjoy approaching graduation raised money to honor those students another way — with banners all over town.

“It’s awesome," said Fort Meade Middle-Senior soon-to-be-graduate Carson Spradlin. "It really shows us the support of the small town and everything they have to offer."

“It means the world to me with everything going down and us losing prom and all that," said fellow senior Caleigh Cagiano. "It just shows how the community is coming together to remember us and it just means a lot."

Florida Rep. Melony Bell (R-District 56) got the idea from another small town in Oklahoma. 

She contacted Fort Meade’s Women’s Club to help raise money for the effort. 

“It was super easy," Bell explained. "The minute we put it out on Facebook, within one hour, we had raised half the money that we needed."

Spradlin said he wasn't surprised by the effort. 

“We kind of knew that they were going to do something because they do something for everybody and it’s just unbelievable what they do,” said Spradlin. 

On May 20, there will be a parade starting at 6 p.m. to celebrate the seniors’ accomplishments. 

Fort Meade Middle-Senior High School has 90 seniors.

Polk County Public Schools recently announced the school's graduation ceremony has been rescheduled to Monday, June 8, and moved to Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. ​