CORNING, N.Y. (WENY) -- Corning Painted-Post East High's Class of 1972 celebrated their 50th reunion, today. Classmates came together to share hugs, laughs, and memories. 

This class is unique because of their ability to keep close bonds with one another and, due to the fact, that they all survived the devastating flood of 1972, that demolished their town.  

AJ Fratarcangelo owns AJ's Hair and Makeup salon in Corning. He said he was looking forward to seeing people he has not seen in years.  

“It's been a terrific, you know, experience...getting everybody together for this event,” he said.  

Fratarcangelo said each class reunion is special, but the 50th is the "cherry on the cake." 

“Fifty years is a long time,” he said. “Some people, we've crossed paths over the years...some people, this is the first time we've seen each other, so it's been great.” 

The class of 1972 was supposed to graduate on June 23rd. That morning, the people of Corning were woken up to the sound of sirens. The rain fall from Hurricane Agnes caused the Chemung River, that divides Corning down the middle, to reach maximum levels and flood the town.  

Carol Stuckey said she still talks about the flood with her classmates at every reunion. 

“It happened to the whole city so everybody has their own stories,” she said. “The stories that come out...some of them are very tearful, some of them are rewarding...that people helped each other. We talk about it a lot...we reminisce about it.”  

Stuckey said she remembers her fellow classmates preparing themselves for the flood and not having a normal graduation. East High's class ended up graduating in their rival's gym, at Corning Painted-Post West High School. 

“It was like, wow, we didn't graduate,” she said. We were able to graduate...August 15th, actually, and...it was an experience.” 

Carol Morgan Gerow, Stuckey's close friend and classmate, said the class of 1972 had over 300 people. She is grateful her class remains close to this day.  

“The people that are here...we're hugging tight, we love our friends,” she said. “We were a close class for having so many people.”