MANCHESTER - Central High School principal Ronald Mailhot called out a group of students one last time before they were out of his jurisdiction for good.

The 18 students weren't in trouble -- far from it. Mailhot just felt they had been too bashful earlier in Saturday's graduation ceremony when Mayor Ted Gatsas asked them to stand and be recognized for committing to serve in the of the U.S. armed services.

“I'm going to force the issue,” Mailhot said as he commanded the soon-to-be members of the military to stand again, then he named each of them and what branch they will be joining now that they are graduates and no longer students at Central.

Members of the audience at Verizon Wireless Arena stood immediately for a lengthy and loud standing ovation as Mailhot went down the list.

“Congratulations to the 18 -- and thank you,” Mailhot said.

Mailhot's impromptu end to his remarks to the Class of 2012 provided one of the more memorable moments in the two-hour ceremony. Students sat on the arena floor wearing green and white gowns, itching for the moment to finally arrive. A beach ball and a couple of inflatable floaties bounced above the mortarboards as the students celebrated their final moments as rambunctious high school students.

Soon, they would walk up to the stage and receive their diplomas, move their tassels from the right to the left and put an official end to their days at Central.

Valedictorian Stephen Shannon stunned more than a few people in his opening remarks when he proclaimed “I'm a murderer ...” After a few uncomfortable moments, Shannon explained he was using a metaphor to represent the changes members of the Class of 2012 have gone through over the last four years. Shannon's macabre point was that the gawking, shy freshmen who arrived at Central in the fall of 2008 are long gone, having been replaced by the young adults going through commencement Saturday.

The ceremony's guest speaker was Christopher Pappas, a 1998 Central graduate and vice president of The Puritan, Manchester's iconic restaurant co-founded nearly 100 years ago by Pappas' great-great-great grandfather.

Pappas reminded the graduates to remember the many people who have helped them over the last 12 years of their education.

“Nothing in life is attained alone. Every accomplishment relies on the contributions of many,” Pappas said. “Your diploma bears your name, but it could easily be footnoted with the names of countless members of the community who gave you opportunity and guided your journey.”

Pappas also marveled at the changes that have taken place since he was on the other side of the stage, wearing a green robe with his classmates as they were about to embark on life after high school. Although 14 years is a relatively short time, in the world of technology it seems like eons.

Pappas noted teachers in his days at Central didn't have to worry about cell phones being used in class because students didn't have them.

There was no Google, no I-Pods or I-Pads and Windows '98 was a big deal. Pappas said the technological developments are wonderful tools when used properly, but urged them to remember there is a world outside.

“Many have called your generation the 'Facebook Generation.' I think this sells your generation a little bit short because it attempts to characterize you as unserious and inwardly focused. Well here's your chance to prove those skeptics wrong,” Pappas said. “Congratulations. You will soon receive your high school diplomas. Update your status. Tweet it. Take an Instagram. Share the news with your virtual communities and then be sure to commit yourselves to a lifetime of good deeds in the physical community that surrounds you.”

- - - - - - - -

Doug Alden may be reached at dalden@unionleader.com.