Medina High School - Medinian Yearbook (Medina, OH)

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Ualfbtrtorg By Anna Bigelow. The June class of 1918 comes here this evening to hid farewell to the high school and all its activities. It is with a feeling of regret that we do this, as the past four years have been happy and profitable ones. But, after all, our sorrow at this’ breaking of school ties is petty and trivial in comparison with the weight of grief that must he felt by every member of this community, for what person here this even- ing has not recently bidden a solemn goodbye to some brave lad in khaki! In this valedictory, it seems more fitting to speak of our soldier boys’ than of our own class. None of us are leaving home for any length of time. Those who go to college or away to work are not facing a fearful future. If we part with our friends it is always with the idea of being able to return to them at will. Other farewells, with which all are far more deeply concerned, obscure our simple leaving of the high school. Eighty-five young men, graduates of our high school, and many more from our town and county have left for military training. They are scattered over the country from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico ; from the Atlantic to the Pacific. They are in the navy, in hospital corps, infantry and avia- tion. They have already gained honors and will win many more. Letters come to us from members of the hospital corps in France telling that the writers are wearing a gold stripe on their sleeves, signifying that they have served six months in the danger zone. From the camps comes again and again the word that our boys are being advanced in the ranks. Four of the alumni of Medina High School are now com- missioned officers, and others will soon gain this distinction. Citizens and relatives have visited them and have seen the remaking of a nation. Uncle Sam is preparing them for the terrible struggle that must come when they reach the red fields of France, lie fully realizes what has to be done and we must stand back of him and serve in every way we can. Only a slacker, only a Pro-German whines “It Can’t Be Done.” “Somebody said it couldn’t be done. But he, with a chuckle, replied That maybe it couldn’t, but he would be one Who wouldn’t say till he tried. “So he buckles right in with the trace of a grin On his face, if he worried he hid it; lie started to sing as he tackled the thing That couldn ’t be done — and he did it. “There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done; There are thousands to prophesy failure; There are thousands to point out to you, one by one, The dangers that wait to assail you.” “But just buckle in with a bit of a grin, • Then take off your coat and go to it; ' Just start in to sing as you tackle the thing That cannot be done — and you ’ll do it. And now, my classmates, in your behalf, I bid farewell to the high school and all its ' associations. AVe have finished our course of study here and are ready to do “our bit” for our country. “A place in the ranks awaits 11s.” 3Jiuu ' (Elaaii guatistira By Ruth Mummaw. AA r e who represent the class of ’18 are neutral in number between last June’s and last January’s

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iPrmtottfa Aiiiirraa By Yaughn Hartman. In this strenuous and critical period in our na- tional life we cannot but realize the great duties and responsibilities that shall, henceforth, rest upon us. We are living in an age of wonderful opportunities. Inasmuch as this is true, much more is it true that we are living in an age of great duties and responsi- bilities. Shall we measure up to these responsibili- ties 1 ? Shall we be equal to these tasks that we shall he called up on perform? 1 believe I am speaking for every member of this class when 1 say that we shall ; and 1 believe 1 am voicing the universal senti- ment of this class when I say that we feel it is a great honor to graduate at a time when duty’s call is stronger than ever before. It is indeed a rare privi- lege to graduate in a class ' which stands face to face with the grave responsibilities t hat confront us — one and all — at this time. Every American — by that 1 mean — every man and woman, boy and girl living in this country — owes this land a debt which is proportional to the length of time it has given of its benefits to him. We of the class of ’18 will do our part as faithfully as we can. Some of us can aid our country in one way, some in another. All of us know that our coun- try needs money, food, men, and everything to make the lives of our soldier boys brighter and more com- fortable. Knowing as we do, that work needs to be done, the true American will find much which is his part. Perhaps our boys and girls cannot accomplish as much as the men and women, but we can and will do everything in our power. No matter how small apparently shall be the part some of us may s’eem to fill, we will know we are performing our duty and shall do our work, gladly and proudly. To whom do we owe our advantages? We are indebted partly to the State. We are indebted to the people of this community and we w ish to thank you all. We wish to thank our teachers who have done so much for us and who have become an inspiration to us. We thank our Superintendent for his efforts in behalf of our school and this class. We thank the Board of Education for the interest taken in the bet- terment of our school and the advantages given us, and — in the same proportion — shall we strive to re- turn to this community and the country at large our services as better citizens. ‘‘A place in the ranks awaits us” and however humble that place, we step forth gladly from the shelter of our dear old High School into the ranks ot the busy Avorld with the hope that we may fill our place as 1 a part of America’s great Battle Line — or m service at the front in order that that which is good, and noble and pure — in order that right and liberty may triumph over barbarism, destructive- ness, and hideousness. Parents and friends, we welcome you to this, our commencement. We shall put forth every effort to prove to you how much we thank you for coming, and to repay you as much as possible for the pleas- ure and pride your presence here brings to us. 1 promise you on behalf of the class that we shall do our very best to make you glad you came. With this aim ever in mind, in behalf of the June Class of 11)18, 1 thank you once more for coming, and extend to you, in the name of the class, our most grateful and sincere welcome.

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classes. There are neither forty-five, nor seventeen, but twenty-four of us. And of this number eight have not been in M. H. S. four years. AVe miss sev- eral who were with, but who, because of the law of the survival of the fittest, left us this last year. But those remaining have held on with a tenacity that is heroic. One of our chief characteristics is variety. This is well shown in our ages, which vary from sixteen to nineteen, the youngest, Vaughn Hartman, being 16 years and 5 months. This makes the average age of the boys just one month younger than that of the girls, which is 17 years, 5 months. We are not surprised that the average height of the boys is 5 feet, 1D 2 inches, and the girls 5 feet, 3 inches or that Vaughn’s height is 5 feet, 11 y 2 inches and Ilazle Boise, who is the tallest girl, measures 5 feet, 6 inches. There is more rivalry between the shorter mem- bers of the boys ' , especially Harold Thatcher, who is 5 feet 7 inches, and George Fretz, who is 3 inches shorter. This is the case among the girls, too, for AVinnifred Pierce, who is the shortest, is just half an inch below Anna Bigelow, who is 5 feet 1 y 2 inches. The average weight of the boys ' is 160 pounds and the girls 117 pounds. Vaughn again distinguishes himself by being the heavy weight of the class. The one place where we lack variety seems to be in the color of our eyes and hair. For out of our class, 15 have blue eyes, 7 have brown, and the other two have grey. Ten of the girls have brown hair, 2 have blond, and one has black. The predominating color of hair among the boys is ' brown. Five have brown hair and the other three black. Thirteen of us cannot claim Medina for our birth- place, and the fact that we were widely scattered must prove, its renown. AVe were all born in Ohio, but only 11 were born in Medina Township. There surely should be no hard feeling when our Baccalaureate is held in the Baptist Church this year, for 13 of us attend the Congregational, 8 the Methodist, 2 the Christian, and one the Catholic church. In politics the boys seem to prefer the Republican party, AVells Whipple being the only Democrat, while the girls are not so rigid. Alt-ho the majority are Republicans, 3 are Democrats, 4 are for the best man ; and 3 are not interested. Of course, after our strenuous school hours, we engage in our pet hobby. Those of the girls are, for the most part, dancing and music, with an occasional joy ride, altho s ' ome of the more demure prefer reading; one declares she loves to fish, and one con- fesses housework is her chief diversion. AA r e have professed a deep interest in the war and have confirmed this statement by buying $86.70 worth of thrift stamps, also two %50 bonds. And we all have the deepest sympathy for the three who have given far more than money. Percy Fenn and Everett Gault have each sent a brother, and Thelma Case has two brothers in the war. We’ll not tire you with more of our pedigree, for, of course you understand half hasn’t yet been told, but as we leave it is in praise of Medina High, in re- membrance of the good times we’ve had there, and with the best wishes to all who remain, Adios hasta luego, ’18.