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World & Nation

A civil war in El Salvador tore them apart. Their high school reunion brought them back together

Members of the class of ’78 were 20 years old when a civil war scattered them across their country and up to California. They find the home they knew is gone, but their feelings for one another endure.

USULUTÁN, USULUTÁN -- FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2019: Vendors line the street in front of the municipal palace during the Patron Saint Festival in honor of la Virgen Santa Catarina de Alejandría in downtown Usulután, Usulután, on Nov. 22, 2019. Members of the graduating class of 1978 from the Instituto Nacional del Usulután attended their 41st class reunion. When the country plunged into a civil war in October 1979, many of them left for the United States and other parts of the world. Now, they're coming back together for a high school reunion, the second one. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

Vendors line the street during a festival in downtown Usulutan, El Salvador.  (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

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Reunion in Usulutan, El Salvador

Former classmates Durham Garcia, far left, of Usulutan, Ismael Rodriguez Batres of San Salvador and Hugo Arnoldo Flores of San Salvador attend a prayer service at Santa Catarina church in Usulutan.   (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

Downtown Usulutan

A motorcycle rider and pint-size passenger cruise along CA-2 in downtown Usulutan.  (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

Usulutan festival

Nominees for queen of the patron saint festival ride parade floats through downtown Usulutan in November.  (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

Usulutan parade

The crowd reaches for candy thrown by nominees for queen during a parade through downtown Usulutan.  (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

National Institute of Usulutan

Students on the first day of registration at the National Institute of Usulutan. Members of the class of ’78 say everything about the school has changed.  (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

National Institute of Usulutan

Gustavo Urrutia, left, academic coordinator at the National Institute of Usulutan, with Manuel Machado of Covina, Calif., a former student of the school.   (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

Rosa Elba Melendez of San Salvador dances with former classmate Dagoberto Lazo of San Miguel, El Salvador, while attending their 41st high school reunion in Usulutan.

Rosa Elba Melendez of San Salvador dances with former classmate Dagoberto Lazo of San Miguel, El Salvador, while attending their 41st high school reunion in Usulutan.  (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

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