Bellows Free Academy - Alpha Omega Yearbook (St Albans, VT)

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B. P1 A. Mercury qfzafifu e I There is nothing more appreciated than genuine gratitude, nor are there many things more difficult to express. It may be this latter fact that has caused America, and indeed the whole world, much of its trouble. Having established this fact, let us consider our faults. Our gratitude is too often a perfunctory thing. Brought up in safety and sufficiency, if not in plenty, we accept too much for granted. The Bill of Rights is hardly ever appreciated except by history teachers and those seeking the shelter of the Fifth Amendment. Our churches are many times only the place to display milady's new bonnet or a handsome window donated by a wealthy member. Homes are a sort of refueling station for the local gilded youth g schools, a place to play basketball and bait the teacher. Not until hard years come do we appreciate prosperity. The true value of the present is seen when it is the past. We gallop gaily through life and our thanks for it are meager. Many times we are insincere when we express appreciation. Nothing is easier to stop than insincere expressions of gratitude, even when masked by an actor of consummate skill. Graceful hypocrisy might just as well carry a red flag and flashing neon lights, everyone can recognize it. Furthermore, it hurts the feelings of the person to whom you are talking. Genuine gratitude brings a glow to the heart of any recipient. This is es- pecially true of those whom we see almost every day! Parents, teachers, and friends all try to help us and most of us have no idea how much a sincere thank you , which takes so little time, can brighten the gloomiest of days. To whom should we as graduates be particularly grateful? Perhaps first we should think of our early American forbears, who believed that everyone should have the right to a free education. The Puritans in particular felt that every person should be able to read the Scriptures: consequently, they set up the first tax-supported schools in America. To them and to such persons as Horace Mann, we owe a debt of gratitude. They gave us a Cl13.IlC0 for an education and the liberty to enjoy it. Next we should remember our fathers and our mothers for the help and en- couragement which they have given us. Many times their judgment and under- standing have surpassed ours. We should respect their wisdom, for it comes of experience. It is they who pay the taxes which provide our education. Our teachers deserve gratitude for the patience which they have so often shown in riding herd on a bunch of flighty students incidental to giving us a little knowledge and culture. And lastly, we are grateful to a Divine Teacher, the greatest Educator of all. Too ma11y people refuse to recognize the fact that existence is 11ot chotic, that for every rule and law of nature there must be a Creator and a Law above all. He alone can teach the most difficult lessons of life. Call Him what you will, he is your Instructor, whose justice is tempered with mercy.

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B. F A.Mereu1'y F TGIF 'EXIF 'ETF 'EXIT TXLF 4312? 'TJIT AISI? 'TJIT 'EXIT 'T-JF 'NUT if if Wil? if DEDICA T10 N The Senior Class of 1953 prozully rlerlzkwzles lhzfs year bool: lo Angelo A. Jlassavteaeher, coach, mul friend. D'm'irLg his seven years at B. F. A. he has served well. As a teacher, he has maihiamed the reputation of his profession by ejzfciently providing instruction and knowledge. As a coach, he has created championship teams hzspirerzf with abuhrlaht good sportsmanship. As a fl'1'fCILIl, he has shown a cordial, 1'm1partial attitude toward all stzuiehls, wel'-'willzfrzg lo do more for Ihem than the required mi'nz m'am. Sb-HTKXS, Jim, JCE., Em, JZIISL Jill QUKV 1liZ1Xi'5S5l1II5T4Z1K3i2l1IZS5T2l1K?1ISF avlxrmlsaff:-1115 1 W 14 V5 Pi H Pi W il W Fi W Fi W li W 1 W if F5 H Fi We Fi W Pi W 14 W ? 14 H A H JT

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B. F. A. Mercury lst. row: l.-1'. Sue White. llillio Swislor. 2nd.row:l.-1'..lm1 Sil,I1l70l'll. lfrmik N?LI'CllIl0. Nunn-y Catlin. 'l'lmnms Pierce, Carolyn lTl'llLll1LLl't. Denis llv Nluntiguy, l'i1l llziilvy. CQ iris cmd Boys State in