Three longtime friends are finally graduating high school, 71 years after dropping out to fight in the war.

A video shared by NBC LA on Facebook tells the story of three friends and World War II veterans who sacrificed graduating high school to fight for their county.

The friends, Tony Romero, 88, Lupe Malacate, 89 and Julian Lopez, 90, were all drafted in 1944 and over the years several things got in the way of going back to school.

Connie Miranda, Lopez's daughter with his high school girlfriend, talked to the Los Angeles Unified School District about making their longtime dream of a high school diploma a reality.

“I believe that anybody who served their country is entitled to all the benefits,” said Miranda. “I think I might cry when I see them walk across the stage to get their diplomas.”

On June 13, the three friends, along with Lopez's wife, all walked across the stage at Abraham Lincoln High School and received their diplomas.

Check out their story here:

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