Farmington High School - Laurel Yearbook (Farmington, ME)

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8 THE LAUREL humanity suffered then, we may indeed be thankful that we live with today's oppor- tunitiesand in this just and merciful re- public. Back in those dark and bloody ages free- dom of speech, of press, of personal thoughts even, was a crime in anyone, except the ruler and his advisers. Today our thoughts expressed, as by voting, are not controlled. They are legal, they are asked for, yea greatly desired. Voting is a privilege, a supreme privi- lege. Let me quote Daniel Webster, that brilliant and far-seeing statesman. HI was born an American, I shall live an American, I shall die an American, and I intend to perform the duties incumbent upon me in that character to the end of my career. Lastly-as a trus-t, voting must always be respected and revered as sacred. Wise statesmen have given t'heir best efforts, wisest policies, the very hey day of their lives that this government might be- come better, richer, for their sacrifices. That it might be strong and just they took upon themselves this trust and performed it seriously, made the nation better for their taking office. Everyone cannot be privileged thus to, so far serve their country. But we all can vote. Q Voting-a duty, a privilege, a trust, must always be carried out with deepest sincerity and absolute earnestness of pur- pose. It is our government-upheld by our greatest reverence and loyalty-to alter, to strengthen, to obey, and greatest of all, to love. Olive Ilfeeks, '29. TT First Prize for Girls National Essay Contest OLD GLORY'S GREATEST GLORY VERY country has its Flag which is honored and cherished through ages of struggle and sacrifice. But to many the American Flag, like a starry beam, shines out above all the rest. Each little light in the banner of dawn seeks a corner of our nation wheire, to some down-trodden creature of foreign despotism, it seems a new resurrection of life and of hope. To the discouraged and oppressed it seems the very promise and production of God. Within its folds lie all the glories of war and of peace, which our Union has ever known. It is, indeed, a privilege for this wonderful Flag to wave o'er the land of the Free and the home of the Brave. But the greatest tribute which we owe to the Flag is that it is oursg that it guards and protects usg and that it is a symbol to other countries of our power and supremacy, inspired with the wish of good will and lasting friendship. Count- less struggles and untold hardships have been endured that we might pay this tribute to Old Glory. From its very in- fancy, in war and in peace, the Flag has always been our inspiration, promoting success and achievement. Many of Amer- ica's noblest sons and daughters have gladly laid down their lives on the battle- field ot conHict that the Red, White and Blue might live forever. In all the schools of America Old Glory is loved and honored. Little children are taught to realize its true worth as they are that of the Bible. Before the boys and girls of this country become citizens in the truest sense of the word they must know and understand their duties toward the Flag. The very heart Hllfl soul of Old Glory is laid bare that young America may fully appreciate all the facts to be known concerning their flagg that they may be- come true and loyal citizens of their coun- try, and eternal guardians of that glorious banner which by right belongs to them. Every day in some part of America the followers of Liberty are acknowledging their indebtedness to the American Flag. Many a patriotic citizen is striving to make himself worthy of the emblem which

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THE LAUREL 7 we are not ruled by some brave and fear- less leader. That custom is being out- lawed along with war and despotism. Today we rule ourselves or at least we are allowed to. The word of sane, upright citizens throughout this land rules the na- tion. Each of us has equal rights of citi- zenship and voting. They are our birth- rights as Americans. These are our own laws and we elect our own officials to carry them out. Let me liken this government to a big machine with myriads of tiny wheels. If one stops, it makes no particular stir but if fifty cease the damage is immense in qual- ity, if not in quantity. After all, it is quality we are seeking in these our laws. We want them to be the best, the wisest, and the most just on earth, Grade A quality that will wear successfully long after the makers have gone out of existence. One man's voting more or less would seem to make no difference but eleven mil- lion would make a striking difference. They could swing the pendulum either way or avert a threatened crisis. Duty it is to every citizen to cooperate with his fellow-men at the polls. Voting is not compulsory, no man is obliged to vote, but some man must or this government would be a nonentity, if it lacked the strength and cooperation of its voters back of it, to vote is such a little thing in effort and so great in result. Truly the man that does not vote is a slacker and a quitter 'on the job of living his own life, for in the world today every man's life is a tiny part of the nation's life, each man's deeds may some day be history. The combination of the deeds and labors of every man make up the great movements of history. In short the lives and work and successes of each and every person living are irretrievably interwoven in the life work and success of his com- munity, county, state and nation. The voting of one alone is not weighty in the result but there are bigger reasons, higher moral reasons why we should vote. Voting is a duty, a privilege and a trust, a duty in that we owe the oflicials our opin- ion of the issue, a privilege as a citizen of the United States to be allowed to speak as to its governing, and a trust in that we are believed to give our true, honest opinion of the matter at hand. These should be the thoughts of each person when voting day arrives. It is first a duty to my country, a debt, yes, a moral debt, a debt I was born with on American soil, a debt I should be and am proud to shoulder, a debt it is I am anxious to pay because of the peace and safety I am assured, protected by tl1e laws and consti- tution of this country, protected not only on the streets and highways of America but in cities of foreign nations where her citizens may travel. The protective cloak of her name makes them safe. It is truly a strong and great arm, our government. Within its clasp we are assured of safety and Well-being,-but more than this fact should confront us. Let us remember that it is the strength of the people backing it that makes our name the strong and influential ,weapon that it is. Lincoln said in 'his Gettysburg Address -'K This is a government of the people, by the people and for the people, and this is a basic fact of our nation even lit- erally. Thus it is the duty, the moral debt of every one to vote to uphold the govern- ment, each being a minute fraction of its foundation. Secondly-it is a privilege to vote as a citizen, to be allowed to speak as to its governing. When we think of the old monarchial rulers,-the Russian Czars, the Emperors of the Orient, the kings and feudal lords of England, Germany and France, the one man rule of Caesar, William the Conquerer and Napoleon. When we think of these monarchies under one man ofttimes a war chief, the pain, the cruelties, the injustice

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THE LAUREL 9 stands for his country. Little by little the inliuence of Old Glory is spreading through the hearts of her people, and they struggle with renewed hope and vigor towards the goal of loyalty and worthiness. Our Flag is not merely the Stars and Stripes , it is the pulse beat of America. National History is written The whole upon it in letters of Red, White and Blue. It proclaims the constitution and the gov- ernment, the backbone and ribs of our country. But above all from its humble birth, the Flag has unfailinglyecarried thc supreme idea: Divine Right Of The Liberty Of Man. Old Glory has ever been a mother to us, sorrowing whenever cruel and malignant VVar took his toll: and rejoicing whenever her sons and daughters returned victori- ous. Many an oppressed subject of an- other country has found a new life to- gether with everlasting Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness under the sympa- thetic and harboring folds of the Flag. America is the melting pot of all nations, and each citizen no matter what his rank may be or what blood Hows through his veins: all pay tribute, to one and the same Flag. The deeds that have been done for our country's sake are written in letters of gold upon the breast of Old Glory, and her heart goes out in gratitude and sorrow to the people who realize her true worth. Our Flag will forever remain the sym- bol of Freedom, Equality, Justice and Humanity. Old Glory's greatest glory lies in the toil and sacrifice that the American people have suffered that they might make their Flag the emblem of the soul of America: that this great banner might reiiect the greatest wish of the people of the United States: H that Old Glory shall be a symbol of all that we are and all that we hope to be. Frances Weathern, '3o. First Prize for Boys National Essay Contest OLD GLORY'S GREATEST GLORY LD GLORY! Why call it that? That is the name William Driver gave a beautiful American Flag presented to him by a group of Salem girls. He car- ried the Flag on his sea voyages and when he decided to settle down, in 1837, it went with him to his new home in Tennessee. He Flew the Flag on such days as Wash- ington's Birthday, Fourth of July, and St. Patrick's Day. But, in 1861, when Ten- nessee seceded from the Union Old Glory vanished. When the Union soldiers took Nash- ville, the morning of February 25, 1862, Captain Driver came home accompanied by several soldiers and Captain Thatcher. He took a bed cover, held it up and told his daughter to rip it open, and miracles, there was f' Old Glory l After it was raised over the Capitol he said: Thank God! I lived to raise 'Old Glory' over the dome of the Capitol of Tennessee: I am now ready to die and go to my forefathers. Before he died he gave his daughter a bundle saying: Mary jane, this is my old ship Hag, 'Old Glory '. It has been my constant companion on many voyages. I love it a mother loves her child: take it and cherish it as I have cherished it, for it has been my steadfast friend and pro- tector in all parts of the world, among the savage, heathen, and civilized. Keep it al- ways. It was kept by the Driver family until a few years ago when it was sent to the Smithsonian Institute to be preserved with the priceless relics of the Nation. VVhat is the Flag? The Flag is the pride and joy of the Nation. The sight of it causes eyes to fill with tears and breasts to swell with patriotism. What does the Flag mean? The Flag means the Nation with all its hardships,