Lincoln High School - Commander Yearbook (Warren, MI)

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-.LUNE comwmosa nose Then came the happy day when we became Seniors. Edward Kolaczynski, John Tucker, and myself entered the class, having completed high school in three and one-half years. June Johnson came from Pigeon High School also in her Senior year. We, as Seniors, looking ahead and dreading the cold and loneliness of the outside world, unsheltered by our Alma Mater, have drawn closer to enjoy our last days. Our work has been lightened and we have enjoyed our special gatherings all the more for the separation so soon to come. In spite of mistakes and lndiscretions, we have successfully com- pleted the course of study. Our aims, our aspirations, have been, in a manner, reached. But, as we start a new year out in the world, we still strive after that perfection that we hope to attain in the fullness of time. Edith Waldo VALEDICTORY Teachers, Classmates, and Fr1ends-- We are gathered here tonight to com emorate the departure of the Senior Class of January 1936. The Master through the servant Paul said, 'Walk worth of the vocation wherewith we are called,n and also, nChoose ye s ay whom ye will serve.N Our choice is supreme and it is our advantage to choose wisely whilenstlll preparing for the great footsteps of our master. Do you know that, To whom ye yie d yourself his servant you are. Knowing this we endeavor to aim high, and surely we thereby will not hit the lowest mark, butmwill undoubtedly gain an eventful life which can only be obtained by those who strive for it. We have only one life to live, and we are trying to make it a successful one. Thus we become an example to others who may be influenced by our most humble efforts. In everyone's life there comes a time when parting words must be spoken. That lot falls on me, on this occasion, and so in behalf of the Senior Class, may I say to one and all--Farewell. Homer Akers SALUTATORY Ladies and gentlemen, undergraduates, classmates: After four years of faithful service, the class of 1936 appears to claim its well-earned pro- motion to positions of greater opportunity. You ask what we intend to do when we go out into the world, and we reply in the words of the catechism: nTo do my duty in that station of life unto which it shall please God to call me. We are humbly grateful to each one who has been instrumental in making our progress possible. We admit our dependence on each well-wisher who has furnished a rung by which we have climbed, and we make public confession of our debt. First, we thank the taxpayers of the state and of the city, whose con- tributions form the first rung of our ladder. America claims a system of free education, but it is free to nYoung Ambitionn simply because you property owners meet the expenses. Without your financial aid, many a rung of the ladder would be lacking. We hope that our future careers will justify your investment.

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J-J-UNE Q COMMANUER 1936 1956 JANUARY CLASS POEM High school days at last are over, But our life has just begun. Our first journey has been successful, But we must make another run. We know the road ahead is steep, But where others have trod we'll go. No matter what the task may be, We're not the kind that would say nNon. No teachers there to help us through, Our friends will all be newg Just keep the spirit of Lincoln High And good luck will come to you. We hate to see this day draw near When we must say adieu, But to all those we leave behind We wish the best for you. Today we follow in other's steps, But tomorrow we lead the way: To make a greater nation in which to live When we are old and gray. Edward Sofranko CLASS HISTORY We climbed the High School steps one morning in February 1952, with the following members: Dorothy Walker, Jane Sloan, Elsie Harrison, Elda Frankiew, Donna Dickenson, Edith Neilson, Homer Akers, William Gross, Viola Ghiata, Lillian Schwalm, Orlando Romano, and Frank Tumino. Such a bonny class as we were. Talk about Freshmen being over-awed by the airs and graces of the Seniors! Why, the seniors simply weren't in it with those Freshmen. we were greater in number than the seniors and had airs and graces enough to supply not only ourselves, but also to help our some needy Seniors. We seemed impressed with the notion that the whole High School and the three upper classes existed g1mp1y and solely for our benefit. We entered upon our first year's work with the bliss born of ignorance, and powerful because of it. Before we proceeded very far, we discovered that high school work is not all bliss, but a great share of it hard work. Most of us objected and it became necessary for us to put special effort to keep up with our comrades. Since there were no special events during the Freshman year, we passed it safely. The following February we bobbed up serenely as Sophomores. And oh, our dignity and importance in our own eyes! I heard one of my classmates remark in a tone of triumph, WWe1l, now we have one class to look down upon.' During the Sophomore year, we sponsored what was called 'Community Nightu which proved successful. Edward Sofranko and B111 Mantel then joined the class. During the Junior year we struggled through the intricate mazes of a new branch of learning. Since we held the important position of Junior Class, we felt it incumbent upon us to do something to distinguish our- selvgg, And distinguish ourselves we did, almost extinguishing the Seniors. We gave a Thanksgiving Dance, a play entitled 'Hobgob11n House , and we gave the outstanding party of the season to the graduating class of January. 1955.

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JUNE Z COMMANDEQ H lQ36 Next, we thank our parents without whose aid a successful ascent would have been impossible. You have left us free to climb and whenever we have come to a gap in the ladder you have stood ready to insert the necessary support. We thank the Board of Education. A class cannot make High School prog- ress without equipment, and we have found you anxious to supply all such rungs that our ladder lacked. We thank the members of the faculty. Each one of you has stood by faithfully, giving us aid as we approached our rungs. Some of these were at the time difficult to scale, but now that they are surmcunted we can see that without them progress would have been impossible. What a dear and vivid picture our class motto brings before us. 'Today we followg tomorrow we lead . The first half of the motto I hope is becoming the thing of the past for us, and the second half, 'tomorrow we lead', is our future goal and outlook. This class has cooperated and worked together splendidly for a nu ber of years, and there is no member who is not capable of the greatest of ac- complishments. We hope that each will become a leader in his field. However high we ascend there will always remain in our hearts a glow of gratitude to all who have built the ladder by which we have ascended. We hope, dear friends, that our progress in the future is far-reaching, and that you will accept our gratitude for the service you have rendered us. Viola Ghiata VALEDICTORY C1956 June Class! Friends: If it were in me to give a brilliant farewell address on behalf of the Senior Class in the manner of one of our more famous orators, I would gladly do so. I would wax eloquent, thanking you profusely, yet earnestly, for all your past kindnessg I would perhaps stir your emotions with a dra- matic recital of never-to-be-forgotten memories of dear old Lincolng I might even go so far as to compose poetry on the spur of the moment--a scnnet, expressing sincere gratitude to you--the people who have made this, our graduation possible. But because I am a Senior and this is our commencement, I am unable to do any of these things. It is so hard to write a speech for such an occasion, for there is so little to say that has not already been said. Other classes have been graduated from Lincoln. They, too have realized the aid, the co- operation, and ever-welcome assistance given by all of you, and they have thanked you for your generous efforts. We Seniors feel no different. But tonight is our big night--it rep- resents all that we have been striving for--it brings such a mixture of joy and sadness, along with appreciation and regard for you that words seem clumsy things, and we are not able to express ourselves fluently.