Banning High School - San Gorgonian Yearbook (Banning, CA)

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ESSAY OF THE YEAR YOUTH Youth, industrious, courageous, faithful; youth, looking through the problems of today to those more impending problems of the future; youth, involved in the pres: ent bloody struggle to free an iron-shackled world, has not forgotten the lesson taught them by those youths who fought two decades ago. They realize that they have a great job before them. When we send our youth to the battlefield we know that the trust we place in them will not be betrayed. They are facing an adventure which is strange to them. Yet they are filled with a desire to gain from that experience the valuable lesson it offers. And from that lesson and the lessons of the past they will secure the knowledge which will enable them to establish a just and durable peace. They will not be found wanting when they face those great problems of the future. They know from the fateful experience of those who preceded them that their job does not end when they thankfully lay down their weapons. And so they look forward confidently to that enormous and complicated problem of establishing a successful post-war world. And standing strongly behind them is their priceless heritage. They stand firm in the conviction that they are right, and that those rights for which they fight are worth any sacrifice, even that of their own lives. For they know that by giving their lives they may insure freedom from want and fear to millions. Those youths who fought before have not died in vain, for from them our youth today takes up a challenge and from their courage finds its own. So let us place undying faith in these youth, who while they fight are not blind to what lies ahead. These dauntless youth possess the courage and determination which will see them through to a victorious end. Youth marches on! FLORENCE LOCKWOOD.

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POEMS 9 tH YEAR Oft When In Silence and In Stillness Lone Of't when in silence and in stillness lone, I think of earth’s cold cruelness and I weep For heartless, homeless, and the ancient crone. What can life hold for these who near death creep? Would not the restfulness of death be yet more sweet Than life alone, beloved by none who cares Which path is taken by these failing feet? Where life is naught and only death is fair? But yet mayhap their lives are not so dread. For God has made the earth more lovely still. Are not the living better than the dead? What shall it take their wishes to fulfill? Kind words, contentment and the warmth of love. All glory in the heaven and God above. MARY HILL H Soldier's Thoughts The battlefront is quiet tonight The earth no longer shakes with might; The guns have ceased their firing, Until tomorrow, again untiring. In lonely hours so bleak and dreary, I think of home, and tho’ so weary, I think of dad and mom and Lee: And wonder if they, too, are thinking of me. The sun says it is 6:00 A. M. The enemy will soon return again, My gun beside me, here we lie; Waiting, for planes to fill the sky. Once more we battle for freedom strong A bullet has my name, life is short, or long? Maybe tomorrow, maybe today; Death lures near me any way. I feel it in my open soul; For me, I know death's bells will toll: But first I'll fight, fight to the end, Of my short life, my sins to mend. The shells are whizzing o'er my head; We'll damn the enemy who dare to tread On our free soil, and we'll make him pay For all the grief he has caused today. Alas! The bullet bore my name, My prayers to God are not the same; Death has raised its ugly head, I go now to my eternal bed. MARJORIE JOHNSON

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