SEATTLE - A special graduation ceremony Sunday at the University of Washington marked the end of a dark chapter in school history as hundreds of Japanese American students interned during World War II received their "honorary" degrees.

It was 66 years ago that their studies here at the UW were ended by a presidential order that sent them all away to internment camps. Now, after a long journey and many painful memories they have returned to graduate.

"It's a symbolic degree, and that's the thing that's important," says Kenji Okuda, who was a 19-year old freshman at the UW when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. "My dad was picked up the night of Pearl Harbor and put into detention."

In his sophomore year, President Franklin Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, sending Okuda and thousands of other Japanese Americans to internment camps.

Some 450 UW students were forced to pack their bags and leave their books behind.

"It was terrible times because we were all being herded up and being taken to camp," recalls Chiyo Horiuchi. "It was not the best of times then."

Although it was not publicly known at the time, UW President Lee Paul Sieg wrote to other college presidents in the months that followed, asking them to accept his students. Information Librarian Theresa Mudrock brought this chapter of the university's history to light seven years ago.

"It's a history we should be proud of," she said. "It's the proudest moment in the university's history."

The president's plea opened the doors for Okuda, who went on to earn a bachelor's degree from Oberlin College and a Ph.D. from Harvard. Now he'll add "honorary degree" from the UW to the list.

"This is an acknowledgement on their part that they made a mistake by not fighting the U.S. military," Okuda said.

As graduates line up for their class picture, it's clear that the six intervening decades have taken their toll. Less than half of the students are here to accept the honor, so family members walk in place of those who couldn't make it.

This is the first time the UW has given honorary degrees to a group of students. The 450 honored today join an exclusive group of honorary graduates who include the Dalai Lama and South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu.