Technical High School - Techtonian Yearbook (Buffalo, NY)

Page 18 text:

THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS ON CLASS DAY As a prelude to graduation exercises, the members of the class of 1944 joyously present this thirty- seventh Class Day program. I deem it a great privilege to extend a cordial welcome on behalf of the Senior Class to the parents, faculty, and students gathered here. We are not unmindful, on this pleasant occasion, of those who are absent,'having left for the service of our country. Gentlemen, we salute you, and are proud of your fortitude! The tradition of Class Day provides a program of the History, Prophecy, Will, and Poem of the graduating body. Our class lawyer makes known our quaint and antic bequests to the fortunate Juniors. Our historian will trace the activities of this group during its four years at Technical, the prophet will attempt to forsee the future of our Members. This is a most opportune time to express appreciation to those who have made possible these twelve years of education. First let us dwell upon the very opportunity afforded us-an opportunity unique in most countries, that of securing development of latent abilities, of receiving a basis for future growth and economic power, at an age when others like us in less happy quarters of the world are already doing day labor in the fields of industry or arms. To our parents whose sacrifices and ambition have given us the boon of education, we offer our sincere gratitude. May we succeed and thereby repay their care. We are appreciative also of the wisdom, patience, and foresight of the faculty in carrying out the desires of our parents, that graduates of this school may emerge as useful, thoughtful citizens. Many problems will confront us all in the trying days ahead. May we meet them with conhdence, with zeal, with humility, and with spiritual guidance! Join us, however, on this carefree occasion, in the whole-hearted enjoyment of Class Day. Donald A. Fisher

Page 17 text:

THE COLOR GUARD A thoughtful mind,when it sees a nation's Hag, sees not the flag only but the nation itself, said one of our great Americans, and surely in these times of stress, every Tech boy, when he takes part in our color ceremony and salutes the flag, salutes not the flag only but the country for which it stands-his country-giving with his lifted hand a silent pledge to guard and preserve it. The salute to the flags brought in by the Color Guard of seniors opens every as- sembly held at Tech. Begun at the time of -the last World War, it has become one of our best-loved traditions, and proud is the boy chosen to be one of the guard. When he approaches the close of his junior year, he becomes eligible for the posi- tion. If he has proved himself to be an earnest worker and a de-pendable, co-operative citizen of his school community, he may be one of the fifteen candidates chosen by his classmates. He must then stand the test of selection by his teachers, and if he is among the final eight who receive the highest rating from them, his place on the guard is assured. By accepting the honor, he assumes the obligation of being at all times ready to officiate at his post and to maintain the same standard of conduct which earned his election. In short, he must strive to deserve the beautiful gold honor pin given him at the end of his service. To the members of this yearly group who have gone out from Tech, the guarding of the flag, which began for them as a beautiful symbol, has changed to deadly earnest. One is flying a fighter plane, a P-39, in the raids over Europe. Another, from whom a V-mail letter has just come, is helping to stem the Nazi tide in Italy. A third in the South Pacific is driving the ,Taps back to Tokio. A fourth is navigat- ing a Liberator bomber, another is working in the SeaBees -The Construction Battalion-the tale is endless. But wherever they are, we can be sure-sure they are showing that their position at Tech was no empty, unmeaning honor. They are proving themselves a true Color Guard. DANIICI. F. .IAFOBS WILLIAM G. HRAYN 2 l

Page 19 text:

VALEDICTORY The old order changeth, yielding place to the new And Codfulfils himsey' in many ways Tennyson This quotation from Tennyson's Idylls of the King expresses appropriately the situation which prevails in the world today. We seniors will depart shortly and the Juniors, the class of '45, will assume the position of top men in Technical High School. We have witnessed many events during the'last four yearsg incidents that will be recorded in history as they certainly have altered the political, social, and economic state of the entire world. Events such as the unmerciful London blitz, the reelection of Franklin D. Roosevelt as president of our beloved country and of course the most tragic and cruel act of them all, the perfidious Pearl Harbor attack. We have witnessed disheartening military setbacks but we have also watched the slow but sure turn of events which precedes an inevitable Allied victory. Upon graduating, many of us will not only leave Tech, but we will also leave our homes and our friends so that we may fight those aggressors who are striving to create a despotic world, a world which will forbid gatherings such as theseg gatherings at which we can recall memories of four of the most felicitous and beneficial years of our lives. Yes the time has once again arrived when we must bid farewell to the maroon and white, never more to see a line of young, eager, typically American boys projecting from room 103, never more to see the shy Freshmen standing in the rear of the assembly, or singing at the tops of their voices during a rousing football rally. New occasions force upon our young untried shoulders many new duties. But we will cope with these additional burdens with comparative ease for if we partake of the opportunities afforded us by our teachers and principal we will emerge into this war-torn world, a match, both in mind and in body, for the youth of any nation. Not only have they taught us fundamentals of technical and economic subjects but they have also drilled into us the importance of honesty and fair play. Nor are we to forget those hearts which are now overflowing with the joy of our successg those eyes which are now vainly struggling to restrain the tears rising from glad hearts: tears which come because of the realization of long-felt hopes. No, let no one commit folly by thinking that without the care and beneficence showered upon us by our parents could we be assembled here today cele- brating our triumph. As we leave our Alma-Mater and shed the tunic of our youth to don the melancholy cloak of man- hood, we may sincerely say that in our hearts are feelings of happiness and joy, for we love our school and we will strive to do her justice and make her proud to recognize us as members of the famous Tech family. ANTHONY J. SCAPPECHIO