Elk County Catholic High School - Memories Yearbook (St Marys, PA)

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g . --vf'- -- --in H V , Z- v -f a f , Lf-GV 176-T' f - - t , 3 Y,-.0 lvfr isxxjqylh 'F t M V Wi I QYWEW c , Y ' 4 155.5-:f,5X f i The Flag and The Nation VERY NATION has some flag or banner to distinguish it from others. The flag of the United States is a symbol, as it were, of the freedom and indef . pendence that we are so justly proud of. The citizens of every nation treat their flag with love and respect and would take it as an insult to have that emblem abused or slandered by any foreigner. The people of the United States are no exception to- this rule. In war, Old Glory is defended in every heroic way possible and thousands flock under the national colors. In all parts of the world the stars and stripes are recognized. , We are told that Betsy Ross, at the request of George Washington, made the first flag. For this work her name is known to every school boy. This first flag was displayed over the commander's headquarters. The stars and stripes were first carried in the Battle of Brandywine, and the first salute rendered the banner was when the Ranger, an American vessel under the command of John Paul Jones, displaying the colors of the Union received a salute from a French commander when entering a French harbor. The Star Spangled Banner, our national anthem, was written by Francis Scott Key. Its inspiring Words and meaning make it especially significant to our people and when it is played it always commands respect. As a fitting tribute to the composer, the National Flag flies at all times, day and night, over his grave. , ,, The original flag changed from time to time, especially during the early days of the republic, but finally it took the form in which we see it tofday-composed of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white, while in the upper right hand corner are fortyfeight white stars in a blue Held. The stripes represent the thirteen original states that so bravely fought for independence, while the stars represent each of the states in the union. The second star in the Hrst row, leading from right to left, represents our own state, Pennsylvania, the second to ratify the constitution. The last star in the flag stands for Arizona. i The National Flag should by no means be desecrated, yet many times abuses, perhaps unintentionally, are given to it. We sometimes End its design used for towels, napkins, paper hats, toys and cheap novelties. There is a national law against abuse of the flag, but it covers only certain points. We should consider it an honorable duty to see that the flag is given real respect. -- George E. Fischer, '28 two E a

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-.,-, , -,...,...i, r XX. U fv' .,,. ' ' c T j1!3?3f 2L, T Y 'lr' lx ug :Sb-5 l 4.. A-XY! In the second year many of us made our first Confession and Communion, which was, undoubtedly, the happiest event of our school year. Throughout the next few grades many different subjects were added to the daily routine. We had history, grammar, advanced readers, arithmetic, geography, spelling and so on, and with the passing of years we became more and more encumf bered with books, heavy both in weight and in subject matter. As the years rolled on not all of our boyish pranks left us, in fact, new and brighter ones interested us. How often, as our strength developed, did we not start a friendly scrap with one or the other, which usually ended in a bloody nose, and, some unmanly tears? Still worse, it seldom happened that this was the end of trouble, for this really only started when the aggressors got into the hands of the teacher. It need not be told what happened in such a case, as nearly everybody is familiar with the consef quences. When in the seventh grade, on one of those dry Autumn days when forest ires are prevalent, we were out for recess, and noticing a cloud of smoke rising from behind the hill back of the school grounds, we clearly saw that there was a fire in that di' rection, and wondered whether the firemen were in need of helpers. Feeling quite selffconf1dent that we could render valuable service practically our whole class def clared themselves volunteers and began to march toward the scene of action without telling any of our superiors. The Ere happened to be miles away, near the rocks toward Johnsonburgg but, never faltering, we kept walking till we arrived at the desired destination. Soon finding ourselves of no use, but rather in the way of the firefighters, we decided it were better to return to school, but failed to get there any more that day. What happened the next day when we put in our appearance need not be spoken of here, we will leave this to the surmise of the readers. Having passed the seventh grade successfully and enjoyed the summer vacation following, we returned to school anxious to complete the eighth grade work with credit, for beyond that looms the High School with its honors and graduation. During this year the school held a competition sale, the proceeds of which were to go towards the new High School, which was being built that year, and from which we were destined to graduate. We had the largest stock, and consequently, the largest trade. On our list was ice cream, soft drinks, bought, and homefmade candy, cookies, and many other confections, together with a large amount of useful articles. Every room had devised a special plan for conducting the sale. Stands were erected on all parts of the playground, laden with the various commodities, and the inviting appear' ancewhich these presented attracted people from all around the neighborhood, inf cluding many adults. This, of course, added much to our success. Every room had complete success, but we won the competition, entailing the neat sum of seventyffive dollars. Vacation rolled by once more, but we said goodfbye forever to the memorable school up on the hill and took up our new place of study in the Gymnasium. Every' thing donned a different aspect. The surroundings were no longer familiar, the school sessions were changed, the playground was missing, nay, even our previous studies were left in memory, and we devoted our time to more complicatd and diflicult subjects, such as Algebra, Latin, Science, Bookkeeping and Ancient History. We now realized 5

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I uf- X X V- ,' ,, ' Flag, - ' Y 'Y Tax-1?-.1-9 1' ' The Gray For Peace At the camp now all was stillg Faintly murmured the neighboring rillg The thud of marching feet had ceasedg And now in the silence lay man and beast. Some few lay dreaming of the morrow, What it may bring of joy and sorrow, And what the outcome of this strife That asks so many a soldier's life. The sentry pacing to and fro Dared not his vigilance forego Lest cruel enemies entrap Those men now deep in slumber wrapped. But hark! The bugle! The sleepers stirg All life where peace and quiet wereg Quick orders are given, and prompt all obey None would attempt those commands to gainsay. The pilot is ready at his controlsg And men are relieved of their patrols. Aeroplanes soar out and up through the air To search for the enemy in his lair. Loud the propellers of the planes are whirring, The motor sends back its ceaseless purringg The wind through the struts is fiercely shrieking, While below the machine guns of death are speaking. The bombers are ready with their awful might, It takes staunch hearts for the gruesome sight When down 'mong the living drop the deathfdealing bombs, That send men in fragments to unknown tombs. An eye like an eagle's now pierces the sky To search out the spectre that hovered so nighg But gone in his terror is the deathfdealing fiendg Only moans of the dying are borne by the wind. And the terrors of the living hear the dirge of the dead, As the souls of their comrades from their clayfhouse have fled Then in silence they kneel on the bloodfdrenched sod, While their hearts cry for mercy to an outraged God. That in pity He sent down His angel of peace, Bidding Demons this bloodshed and carnage to cease. That their AllfFather, God, take His children once more Home to their loved ones from that bloodfreeking shore. -joseph Thiel, '28 c E .