Milford High School - Oak Lily and Ivy Yearbook (Milford, MA)

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SALUTATORY NATIONAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATION The class of 1941 extends its greetings and welcome to you, our parents, teachers, and friends on this, our graduation day. It is with a mixed feeling of joy and grief that we approach this occasion, but the joy is surpassing our grief in knowing that you, who have made this possible, are with us on this memorable night. We thank you and hope that we may prove worthy of your sacrifices. National defense is the most import¬ ant topic of conversation to-day. The ordinary person who discusses the various items of defense thinks chiefly in terms of huge airplanes, which are to patrol our borders and our sea coast in defense against some possible invader; he pictures rumbling, rolling ' fortresses which rush over the land at amazing speeds. He thinks of large battleships mounted with guns and cannon of every size and type, from whose mouths would pour tons of red hot lead. He considers the number of men who comprise our well-trained armed forces. It is only natural that such thoughts should be uppermost in his mind, since these men, these planes, these tanks, and these ships are the most conspicious items of national defense. Defense does not consist only of arm¬ ing the nation with weapons of war; there is something else which is needed besides these, and that is education. The troubled times through which we are passing are placing a greater demand than ever before on the young men and young women of the American republic. It is essential for these men and these women to be clear- thinking and tolerant. It is necessary for them to be loyal to their country and faith¬ ful to their God. If these qualities are achieved, education is worthwhile. The turmoil and bitter strife of the world to¬ day would have been averted if the quali¬ ties of tolerance, clear-thinking, and devo¬ tion to God were possessed by everyone. With education the young men and young women will be able to take a place in a competitive world. All our industries are demanding young people who are trained to work for them. We want to be those young people. This program of national defense has brought with it a brighter out¬ look on life for the young high school grad¬ uate, because it has provided more work than there has ever been for the past twelve years. The graduate was beginning to feel as if he was never to be able to find a place in the work-a-day world because these last twelve years there didn’t seem to be any place where he could get a foothold on the ladder of success. T his defense program has changed all of this and the young graduate can feel safe again, because he can play an important part in making up this defense. The charge will be made that the world has gone back to a darker age because of the terrible war going on in the world to¬ day. People will state that modern civili¬ zation has degenerated to the level of the savage herds who ruled the world centuries ago. Modern science seems to be used as an instrument of annihilation rather than as an instrument to help man in his strug¬ gle toward eternity. As their specific ex¬ amples they point to things like the poison gas, a means of flooding the land and creeping like dope into the minds of men, women, and children to destroy the human brain and cut in half its ability to enjoy normal life. The development of the air¬ plane, instead of being measured in tenns of assistance to humanity, is considered successful in proportion to the amount of death dealing bombs it can carry. Scientif¬ ic achievements in a world gone mad have as their sole object the murder and mutila¬ tion of the human family and fireside. The remedy for these conditions is obvious. Education and science without God are responsible for these terrible results. Some of the dictatorial countries might well be considered as examples. In these lands to-day there is an organized 21

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Mil Bird Marguerite E. 57 Congress Street Activities Freshman Science David Garrick Club Senior French Club Student Asscoiation Ambition Nurse or Telephone Operator Borelli Lena F. 18 Fayette Street Activities Dante Club 2-3-4 Commercial Club 2-3 David Garrick 3-4 Freshman Science Minstrel Show 4 Ambition An Artist Blascio Lena 58 East Street Activities Basketball Team Dante Club David Garrick Club Freshman Science Brenna Raffelina M. 43 Beach Street Activities Commercial Club Literary Club Blizard Robert 48 Jefferson Street Activities Freshman Science Commercial Club-- Ambition To be a Soldier Bulso Frank Angelo 19 Spring Street Activities Football 2-3-4 Basketball 2-3-4 Baseball 2-3-4 Commercial Club 2-3-4 Freshman Science Ambition Coach Bonina Anna 22 Plain Street Activities Commercial Club 3 Ambition Newspaper Reporter Burns Joseph 48 Forest Street Activities Band 1-2-3-4 Orchestra 2-3-4 Minstrel Show 1-2-3-4 Junior Science 3-4 David Garrick Freshman Science

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crusade against God, especially in dealing with school children. Religion is a thing to be cast aside like an old worn out shoe. Children are prevented from even trying to think about God. Physical education pro¬ grams take the place of the usual Sunday morning church services. The various youth leaders of these countries plan hikes at this time to keep the youth of their na¬ tions away from church. In schools this act is carried even further, because God and his teachings are ridiculed and brought to shame before innocent souls. It is the most insidious of all religious persecution. These countries have people adoring as their God maniacal despots who are sow¬ ing the seeds for their own destruction. Education in Europe has become merely a tool in the hands of power mad dictators to train the youth in the Godless doctrines so necessary to the support of their regime. God as a living force has been ignored. American education is based on sound principles that school and religion go hand in hand. The student is taught the truth about the world, and our maps and books are not gone over by a censor to have the truth crossed out. Ou r teachers are not forced to teach only things that are in standing with a certain party. The student is taught to love his country and to be proud of its free principles and above all he is taught to love his God. The result of this American system of education is that we are developing a real super-race composed of the off-spring of all races. Possessing as our birth-right the might of forty-eight states, our wealth is the cause for envious glances from so-called mighty empires. We the Class of 1941 place our trust in God and beg of Him to allow us to remain clear-thinking and tolerant. We beg of Him that we who are now enjoying the blessings of liberty may be able to hand these blessings down to posterity, unsullied, unconquered, for its eternal enjoyment. OAK, LILY, AND IVY COMMITTEE Early in March the Oak, Lily, and Ivy Committee appointed by Mr. Berry, who shortly afterward outlined his plan for the book. After Mr. Morin had taken the group pictures and the drive on advertisers and sponsors was closed, the committee settled down to complete the various writ¬ ten articles which appear in this volume. It was, I assure you, no easy task to write the Class Prophecy, Class History, Class Will, and Calendar, and I want to thank the Senior committee members whose literary efforts were responsible for these articles. As Editor-in-Chief of the O. L. I., I also wish to thank, on behalf of the com¬ mittee and myself, Mr. Berry, who advised us in the formation of the book. Miss Ryan and Mr. Sweeney who helped perfect our writings. Miss Pyne who acted as our treasurer, and all other teachers and stu¬ dents who in any way helped us to complete this edition of the Oak, Lily, and Ivy. It is only fitting that in closing we al¬ so thank those who made our education possible through a never-ending series of personal sacrifices. We mean—our parents. All the joy and exaltation which we ex¬ perience on this, the occasion of our gradu¬ ation, is due to their efforts in our inter¬ ests. We cannot hope to express our feel¬ ing adequately in words; so let us just say, “Thank you and may the future years prove us worthy of your sacrifices and re¬ pay you in some small measure for your efforts.” 0. L., AND 1. Committee. A TRIBUTE As freshmen and sophomores we looked forward with anticipation to the happy days ahead, when we would take over the privileges and responsibilities of being all-important seniors. Of course, an¬ ticipation always does exceed realization, yet commencement is here and somehow our party has not quite been complete. The opportunity to have worked with Mr. Harold M. Moran, instructor of senior English and class adviser, is a part of our education not to be realized. May we extend a unanimous hope, Mr. Moran, that an early return to active service will thus enable the classes to fol¬ low an opportunity to acquire the benefits of your excellent instruction, wise guid¬ ance and willing assistance. Class of 1941. 22