Commerce High School - Ledger Yearbook (Portland, OR)

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lila'3'fAttV Nil Wresideufk' ,Address Like all the Class Presidents before me, I am charged with the responsibility of putting into words what all of us in this graduating class feel as we prepare to leave a place ln which we have shared all the experiences that go with obtaining an education. I shall do my best to acquit myself honorably. When we entered these halls four years ago, the world was not yet in a state of total wary but the clouds were hanging low over our heads and it became increasingly apparent that before too long a time had passed the world would once more be embroiled ln a conflict to preserve the freedom and liberty for which our fathers had fought in the years which now lte behind us. Today we are in the midst of that conflict. Today our brothers, our fathers, relatives, and friends are involved in the struggle to preserve for coming generations that American ideal for which our fore- fathers fought: FREEDOM. In many ways we are glad that what was once a horrible nightmare of apprehension has become grim reality, because we can now look forward to the day when the conflict will be over and when young people will once more be able to complete their educations with the expectatlonof putting their skills to work in a world of peace and a world of liberty. Our classmates of five or ten years ago had to face the prospect of war. We face the prospect of peace. lust as many of our classmates of former years are serving honorably and admirably in a world at war, we are prepared to serve honorably and admirably in a world at peace. For, just as war calls for hard work, high ideals, and unswerving devotion to duty, peace calls for hard work, high ideals, and unswervtng devotion to duty. We are determined to serve in peace as well as our predecessors have served, and are serving, in war. What we have learned in these four years will stand us in good stead ln the years to come. We have learned efficient office procedure. That will help us perform our duties well in a world of increased business and titanic projects. We have studied history and its kindred subjects. That will enable us to guide our actions from past experi- ences. We have studied English and literature. That will help us understand our culture and the culture of other nations in a world of international goodwill. And our clubs, our student body, and our various other activities have taught us cooperation-the good American way. By working side by side with our classmates, we have learned to respect the opinions of others. It has taught us the priceless quality of cooperation in time of war. ln time of peace without this cooperation man fails his accomplishments. This training has taught us skills, skills that will help our government fill those special jobs for which it now demands the great percentage of 63 out of every 100 men for skilled positions. Today a war-torn America has had to lower its qualifications for industrial work. ln the peace to come only the skilled worker will find chance for achievement. Fortunately we are of this group. We need physical strength so that we can work a full week at full speed instead of half a week at a pace too slow to help us win the war before many more weeks pass. After the war we shall need even greater strength to build a world of equality for all. The importance of a sound body today is obvious. Not only the demands of war but the full-speed day is demanded of every civilian, man and woman. But unless to these skills, to this sound body we bring a consideration for our fellow man, a genuine interest in the welfare of others, a desire to improve the lot of the oppressed, the unfortunate, our work will bring us but a surface satisfaction. Our study of history, of literature has taught us that man can not live to himself alone. The moral training that has been given to us so thoroughly has taught us to face facts openly, to safeguard our- selves against base standards. Our generation is of high ideals. We are just a bit more open in our general ideas than many like to believe. As graduating seniors, we have confidence of our tolerance toward others. We are ready to face the world and take our part ln it. We owe a debt of gratitude to our parents, for they have provided us with the desire for the better things of life and have sacrificed in order that we might have them. We owe a debt of gratitude to the faculty, and to our Principal, Vice-Principal, and Dean, for they have served well as our counsellors, advisors, and instructors during four years of development from Fearful Freshmen to Selfesufficient Seniors. To all of you we say, Thank you . We go out from these halls inexperienced in many ways, but trained thoroughly in our chosen subjects. Perhaps YOU see before you only a group of young people, but we are MORE than that. My classmates and I are Young America, ready to serve, in war or in peace. Together, we join all America in pledging allegiance to OUR flag, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. ELVING ANDERSON. P a q e 1 1

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af f . if 1-sf ft Glass flisfvry On january 23, 1939, lll timid rookies enlisted together as an army of ununiformed men cmd women to start their basic training at Camp Commerce, S. E. 26th and Powell Boulevard. Unacquainted with camp rules and regulations, these new recruits were thersubject of much embarrassment and confusion-a veritable awkward squad. At the first roll call, the com- mander reported that 41 were Portlandersy 15 were born in states west of the Rocky Mountains: one in Canada, and one in Alaska. Some found the camp discipline too strict and transferred to other camps. Later, reinforcements discovered the advantages of our training and joined forces with us. Then, just after a long awaited furlough, we received a communique from General Head- quarters telling us that we had earned our Freshman stripes. We again went into action and gained considerable ground in the bombardment of home work of the Sophomore Division. Drilling did not take all our time, however. During our leisure moments we took active part in clubs and athletics. We also won several inter-class track meets. Later when we were promoted to the junior Brigade, we became officers of clubs and non- coms in athletics. More maneuvers: we hacked our way within striking distance of our goal and finally gained a solid foot-hold on our objective. Fifty-three are generals in the stenographic field, 16 have special technical training in bookkeeping and 10 are even better prepared to lead in both stenographic and bookkeeping fields, while three are doubly prepared for clerical work. Thirty answered roll call promptly and three were always present and on time for all activities. New positions were assigned to 31 in different fields throughout the city, and 12 plan to attend officers' training school for further instructions in their chosen field. Fourteen were awarded medals of honor for outstanding ability in their assigned duties. Now, the battle is over. As we pack our duffle bags to leave Camp Commerce, we regret- fully haul down our Senior flag which has flown proudly for the past year. No bugle will sound retreat: taps will not be heard: instead the call to arms will roll out. The unshed tears, the catch in our throats atthe thought of leaving camp gives way to clear eyes and squared jaws in preparation of what is to come. We are equipped and fully fortified to join the ranks of those who have gone before us and leave camp to the competent leaders of the division to follow. K. Q, ff M E as 59525 19 '16 - 'X 9 1 1-'ll 1 ' X axxw Page 10

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EUGENE ARNOLD Room Rep., Hi-Y, Fire Squad, Track, Basketball, Typing Award, Cafeteria Helper, Stenographic Course, Vaudeville. xvfifrfg rf WANDA ATKIN Steno-mimes, Aristons, Steno- graphic Course, Typing cmd Shorthand Awards. J WW HARRIET BAKER Drum Majorette, Choral Cadets, Beta Sorosis. Class Song and Poem Committee, Sundstrand Awardw Q ,bf . 04' do 1 W! , VVINIFRED BAKER. Stenographic Course, Room Rep., Class History, Senior Blotter, Epsilon Sorosis, Business Girls' League, Ariston y. ELEANOR BECKMAN Stenographic Course I J K-' Ve I . ,rf lfj 'J it 'VIJW ,vip 5, t..f g 1 :Page 12 JOYCE BERG Steno-mirnes-President, 60 Word Gregg Award, Sundstrand Add- ing Machine Award, Luncheon Committee. f A 1 ' I ff ' ' C LEOTA BEYNON Stenographic Course, Sundstrand Adding Award, Senior Blotter Committee. -ffkf' , .6 ysji KA GERTRUDE BLASER Stenogrophic Course. JZWW NADINE BOWMAN A Stenographic Course, Class Will Committee, Deltoria, Sorosis, President of Steno-mimes, 60-80- 100 Word Gregg Awards, Typing Award, History an Dalton Add- ing A rds, Honor Roll. FRANCES BRIGHT Stenographic Course, Head of the Luncheon Committee. ,J A, Q , I H1 '-My 1, .