Agawam High School - Sachem Yearbook (Agawam, MA)

Page 6 text:

Today for the second time within twenty-five years the United States is at war. We arc a peace-loving nation and desire conflict with no one, but when a knife was thrust in our back, we awoke and girded ourselves for a long, tedious battle. In this war we are fighting for our very existence: if we lose, we shall be at the mercy of the most ruthless butchers the world has ever known. Ever since the Bill of Rights was added to our Constitution, we have en- joyed the privilege of being free men. Today, our freedom is being challenged by a paper hanger who says: We, as the true chosen people, shall become the masters of the earth. Such a challenge, threatening slavery to all peoples, strikes at the very foundations of our national and international life. The right to freedom of the press, religion, and assembly may be only phrases to unthinking Americans, but there is not one to whom the actual practice of these things is not precious. Imagine what it would mean to read a newspaper which you knew was filled with deliberate lies. Imagine how you would feel, if you had to go to church furtively if you dared to go at all fear- ing punishment from the authorities. In what country in Europe could I, a student from this graduating class, stand before you, free to express my uncen- sored opinion1 In Poland, where boys have been ruthlessly slaughtered? In Czechoslovakia? In Norway? In France1 The road to victory will not be an easy one, as we have already witnessed. We have suffered numerous costly defeats at the hands of the Japs. But our government is not asleep: it is mobilizing for the blow that will rid the world of tyranny. To prevent inflation, a ceiling has been placed on retail prices; to in- sure fair distribution of goods in which there is a scarcity, sugar and gasoline have been rationed. To combat shortages of labor caused by drafting of young men into the army, an enormous registration of all available man power has been undertaken. A tremendous military machine has been built up and is constantly increasing. In this war for freedom there are no spectators. Every man, woman, and child must make sacrifices, if we are to continue our present way of life. W e are fighting for civilization - for the right to live decent, self-respecting lives with freedom under the law. We are fighting not only for ourselves and our descendants but for all mankind. The outcome of this struggle, we know, will depend, in part, on our having an overwhelming superiority in arms, ships, planes, and men. But it will also be determined in great measure by our attitude. Napoleon stated that in the time of war the ratio of morale to physical force is 3 to i. but our Chief of Staff, General Marshall, says that it should be not 3 to i, but b to 1. The Italians surrendered in Lybia, not because the English had more men and better equipment, but they, the Italians, had nothing to fight for. The French, who had the world’s best trained army, did not have the morale to withstand the cracking of the Maginot line. W e have scarcely begun to realize just what blood, sweat, and tears this war w ill cost us. Yet when has America been afraid1 Out of the bleakness of Valley Forge came a country that for 167 years has been a haven for the oppressed. We of the graduating class are conscious of the gravity of the situation in the world into w hich we are entering. We are ready to do our part in winning this war. W e are eager to help shape the world after the war. In the words of President Roosevelt we realize: The defense of religion, of democracy and good faith among nations, is all the same fight. To save one we must make up our minds to save all . 42. Charles F. I yler, President—Class of ’

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THE FACULTY T'irst Row |left vertical] Miss Miller, Miss Benotli, Miss Yuill, Mr. Quirk. Second Row Miss Smith, Mrs. Aldrich, Miss Hastings, Mr. Langlois, Miss Phelan. Third Row— Miss Bel yea, Mr. Phelps, Mr. Dacey, Miss Dickerman. Fourth Row Mr. Hadley, Miss Perry, Miss Ward, Mr. Oulton, Miss Griswold. Fifth Row Mr. I larris, Miss Bradbury, Mr. Mosely, Mr. Montagna. I I 3 1

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SENIOR CLASS OFFICERS Charles Tyler, President Ruth Phelps, Vice-President Lorraine Harpin, Secretary Roland Swanson, Treasurer