to Iraq

By GENNIE PHILLIPS/The Demopolis Times

SWEET WATER &8212; The graduation ceremony at Sweet Water High School will be viewed not only by the audience attending the commencement exercises but also by a spectator in Iraq. With technological equipment, the graduation ceremony will be streaming live to Baghdad, so the father of the valedictorian of the graduating class can watch his son give a speech and accept his diploma.

Major Clay Davis, father of J.C. Davis, was deployed on April 27 with the 31st CSH unit in El Paso, Texas. He is a chaplain in the Army.

J. C. Davis said although he was disappointed when his father was deployed before graduation he supported his leaving.

The live stream via the Internet came with the joint efforts of school officials.

Stokley said he talked with Jana Hoggle, Technology Coordinator for Marengo County Schools, and she got the live feed set up.

Hoggle said the school had the equipment needed to place the video on the Web site, but ITS brought the equipment needed to place the live feed over the Internet.

Major Davis&8217; brother, Mark Davis, assistant principal of Sweet Water High School said the Davis family is very appreciative of the technology.

Major Davis&8217; wife, Sandra, said she is too excited about the possibility that her husband may view the commencement exercises in &8220;real time.&8221;

She said it would take approximately a week and a half for the DVD to arrive in Iraq.

Sandra Davis said her husband is still working out the details around his access to a computer that will provide live web feed and sound.

Major Davis will be accessing a computer that is in a community computer room and has to sign up for use of the computer.

Sandra Davis said, &8220;We are just so thankful for the technology to have the availability to do this.&8221;

Stokley too said the school is excited to be able to provide this service for the Davis family.