Obama to deliver commencement address in Joplin

ByABC News
May 21, 2012, 6:07 PM

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President Barack Obama will address the 2012 graduating class of Joplin High School Monday night at the school's commencement ceremony. The address comes almost one year after severe tornadoes devastated the Missouri town.

Obama visited Joplin on May 29, 2011 to view the damage and participate in a memorial service for victims of the storm. "We can't know why we're tested with the loss of a loved one, or the loss of a home where we've lived a lifetime," Obama said last May. "These things are beyond our power to control. But that does not mean we are powerless in the face of adversity. How we respond when the storm strikes is up to us. How we live in the aftermath of tragedy and heartache, that's within our control."

The graduation ceremony takes place this evening between 7-9:30 p.m. CT. Yahoo News will be streaming the ABC News coverage of the speech.

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