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GRADUATION CELEBRATION

Graduates of the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, celebrate the end of their commencement ceremony—and the end of four years of hard work and perseverance. As Thunderbird jets fly over the stadium, the cadets toss their caps into the air. Traditionally, cadets put money on the inside of their caps. Once the toss happens, kids under 12 are allowed to run onto the field, find a cap, keep the money, and return the cap to the cadet.
PHOTOGRAPH BY AJ LEE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC YOUR SHOT