Pembroke Academy - Academian Yearbook (Pembroke, NH)

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..lJdJE L A S T I N G P E A C E t . Helen Muller He was that sort of guyz Happy because there never was an thing in his life to have made him unhappy. So happy, in fact, that sometimes he'd forget other's sorrows. He'd never thought much about sorrow anyway. He didn't have time. His spare moments were usually taken up with having a good time. It didn't matter much to him, either, who he was with. Then came the war and then his draft papers. Now that he had more time to think and reflect over his past experiences, he didn't quite know how to take it. Here he was standing dog-watch-alone and lone- lyg and to his utter exasperation, found himself thinking of Mary. He sort of didn't want to think of any one girl--he'd heard that girls Just tied a fellow down and caused trouble when a guy wanted to have a good time. Funny how Mary con- stantly occupied his thoughts! She had always been nice to him, but it was impossible that she'd ever fall for a guy like him. nBut then,u said Dave, nwhat was it that she said the day I left? Something about making her mad. I wonder---U Just then the sirens walled and Dave knew that this was it! His first week in the hell-hole! No peace out here. Men were sent here to work and lose their lives! Well Dave wasn't going to sit back--this was it, and this was the time for him to get busy. Already the Ihukers were above and drooping their deadly missile. One almost got the mess-hall that time! No time for that though! Dave landed into the foxehole on his knees and grabbed the trigger of the Tommy-gun. ,A red spurt of fire and then silence. Uwhat is this?W cried Dave as he saw confusion arising. 'Come on! Get to your posts! Get going you guys--whst're you waiting for, your grandmother?W Once again, a spurt of fireg then again, silence. Then, up there it seemed as though the Heav- ens exploded when one of the bomb- ers caught and started on its last journey. For minutes that seemed like hours, the plane dove, and Dave couldn't tear his eyes from it. At last it crashed to the earth with a grinding, deafening sound that must have shaken the whole countryside. Dave handed the gun over to John- ny and ran off towards the p1ane.If he could save the poor devil inside, he wasn't going to let him die. WIf only the tank doesn't blowln Just as Dave got within ten yards of the ship, the tank, with a blinding flash and roar, went up in flame. A week went by and then another without Dave's regaining conscious- ness. Then, on Tuesday of the third week, Dave painfully opened his eyes. 'Where am I? What am I doing here?n He tried to raise himself on his elbow and suddenly realized that he was powerless. Dave sank back on his pillow with a long, drawn-out sigh like one who has given up hope. WHel1o' soldier, how do you feel? Dave looked up into the eyes of a beautiful girl with a smile as bright as the word 'peace.' Dave lay there speechless and gazed at her. nwhat are you doing in this hot hell-hole?W Dave asked wearily, WTaking care of you.n she smiled. With that, the nurse left him to his own thoughts. Out of the black- ness of his mind came the memory of Mary. In a weakening voice Dave said, WMary darling, I realize now that it is you that I'm out here to save. To save the peace-so that we can be together again.H With that Dave slipped into eter- nal peace. s s x

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ras AQAQSMIAN D ,,,,,,,,,,,,-.,...,,.,, zalnmnosrscrzon Madeleine Richard Having almost teeshedethorend of my high school career, I think that it is a good idea to look back upon the things which have impressed me and which I will want to remember always. X The first things that come to my mind are the little unimportant hap- penings that, because of their humor, because they were so charact- eristic of someone, or just because I had a part in them, have remained ln my memory for the past four years. My very first day at P.A.. my first glimpse of the new teach- ers every September, eating under the trees, scoring basketball games, and Charlie Yeaton and the vase of pussywillows at the senior play dress rehearsal are examples of what I mean--examples of the light- er side of my high school days. ity days at P.A. have not been filled only by silly and trivial moments. The past four years have been marked by a lot of serious thinking, by some disappointments and some rewards. My first debate, the first time I received four A's on my report card, the sociology c1ass's visit to the home for the feeble-minded, translating a diffi- cult passage of V1rgil's Wheneidn are some of my more serious memories Finally, in looking back, I will always remember the many, many things for which I owe so much to Pembroke Academy. The fine educa- tional opportunities which I have had, the friends that I have made, the teachers who have taught me how to apply the facts which I have learned, and the attitudes which I have gained--all these things have laid the foundations for my future. And so, as I conclude my retro- speotlon and begin to look ahead, I can only say, may all my future years be as happy and as worthwhile as my past four years. -1:--ui L C O K I N G U P Q Ella Severance Did you ever climb a mountain? that a grand feeling it is to stand on the highest point to be found and look down onto the fields and plains below. The colors, all blended together to form a delight- ful pattern of unmatchable hues and colors, make you reluctant to look at anything else. Then, you look up into the sky. It was far away when you were on the ground. and, strangely enough, it still is. But how much more you can see. The sky stretches endless- ly on and on, and, if. you are high enough, the ground appears to ex- tend illimitably, also. Would it not be safe to say, then, that when you have once gained your goal lt is as beautiful to look backward as forward? But, remember when you were at the base of the mountain? when you down there wasn't very much looked to see. Everything was too close to you But as there to make a beautiful pattern. you gazed up the mountain, was a network of colors, changing so slightly in some places and so sharply in others. It was very beautiful to look up to the very tip where the blue of the sky blended with the mountain. How often do we find it more enjoyable to look up? When we are young we look upward and onward. There seems to be nothing around us so beautiful as what is above us. But when we get older we will look back and see the beauty of ithings that were too near us to seem attractive. Let us strive so that when we do look back the pattern will be beautiful.

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l g 1:-ue gcAosMgAN U. S. O. F 0 R V I C T O R Y Norma Cleveland In my opinion, the U. S. O. as seen and understood by the average American, is one of the most out- standing organizations of our coun- try for the men and boys in cur armed forces. These letters, U.S. O. make up the abbreviation for the United Service Organization, and are known country-wide. In nearly every city of moderate size and population, and in some towns, there is a U. S. O. building where our soldiers, sailors, and marines may go for entertainment, rest, and aid. They provide good times and comfort for those far and near, who have spare time and wish to spend it at these places. Every U. S. O. has countless games and sports, also a lounging room where the fellows may rest or write let- ters. The stationery is also pro- vided, There is usually a large dancing room at which a dance is also distributed, and such conven- iences are absolutely free for the service men. The fellows who are regular U.S.O. members are allowed to bring friends in with them. A visiting civilian must be eighteen years of age to enter the U.S.O. Girls may become members or hostesses. Throughout the middle western states where U.S.O.'s are prevalent, groups of members of this organiza- tion go to the railroad stations, eager to direct the fellows. Also, for those boys remaining on trains, there are U. S. O. girls who board the trains with coffee and dough- nuts for the boys. This organization is sponsored by the American people as a whole who want to help the boys. It has been a success thus far, and will doubtless continue as such, So all you Americans--give to the U. S- O. for Victory! ..g...-1i.-.---.- held at least weekly. Food is W E ' R E N O Betty Ann The largest and most powerful enemy of the Allies is the confi- dence of the American people. We have no fear of losing this war. The fact that the Axis might win has never entered out minds: if it has, it has been a thought that has just come and gone. Us thought about it as one remembers a night- mare, something horrible, but still nothing that touches our little smug world of reality. Ue're not afraid. because we haven't felt the forces of Germany and Japan. we haven't, but Our soldiers, sailors, and marines have felt them, At Pearl Harbor, at Bataan, at Gorregidor, in the Sol- omons, our boys hove felt them, T A F R A I D Douillette What have we Joy-loving and care free Americans at home felt? Per- that we'l like coffee when we the most we've when the Japs if we had had haps we have felt some steak, sugar or couldn't get it. At never been at Bataan came, knowing that guns and ammunition to give them hell, Bataan never would have fal- len. We Americans have got to real- ize that this is everyone's war, not one belonging to the armed forces. We've got to get into it, every one 'of us. We've got to start being afraid: being afraid that if we do not buy a war stamp with that change from the eggs, our future may be a future of night- mares.