Sayreville War Memorial High School - Quo Vadis Yearbook (Parlin, NJ)

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rucTion- A Hedonistic Action In an effort to give coverage to the people behind the scenes, the Quo I after Friday’s Pep Rally. He arrived when the float was completed and ironi- Vadis photographer was taking candids of the construction of the senior float | cally shot the only picture of the 1981 senior Homecoming float. 22 Vandalism

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The Homecoming Queen candidates enjoyed a few dry moments before the downpour Timelessness is Through the Looking Glass as exhibited by the junior class float. The Big Bad Wolf casts his eyes upon the Three Little Pigs from atop the sophomore float. Carefully applied makeup streaked down the faces of the Homecoming Queen candidates while they looked with dismay at their water-stained gowns. Umbrellas opened and closed as the rain poured from the heavens just long enough to chill spectators and drench bleacher seats. As if the rain did not cast gloom enough. Homecoming 1980 struck the senior class with tragedy. News that the senior float had been maliciously burned the night before spread through the bleachers like wildfire, as spectators entered the stadium. The gloomy weather and the act of destruction combined to create a black legacy for October 18. 1980. The devastating opening of Home- coming lingered in the minds of its observers, but they were soon swept up by the spirit of the day. The bitter- ness projected toward the vandals gradually gave way to enthusiasm as the Sayreville Bombers tied Colonia 6- 6. Despite its blackmark, the traditions of Homecoming 1980 continued in their usual manner. The 5 candidates held their breaths and silently prayed as Cindy Farver was announced the new Homecoming Queen. The crowd cheered euphorically as the Bombers displayed their second consecutive show of success which prompted many spectators to remain until the final play. The class of 1981 fought uncontrollable circumstances but man- aged to make Homecoming 1980 a memorable event. Homecoming 21

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Vandalism — perhaps the most despicable crime to plague a community as a whole. The actions of one person can ruin some- thing for a class, a school, or an entire town. A sudden wave of vandalism has hit the high school four times in the past two years, causing hardships both financially and emotionally. It all started with the destruction of the stadium press box during the sum- mer of 1978. Following suit, this past August saw the torching of the conces- sion stand which forced the senior class to devise a temporary means of selling refreshments at football games. Pressure to complete the rebuilding of the stand in time for the Homecoming game lasted straight through until the eve of Homecoming. The theft and eventual partial destruction of the John F. Kennedy portrait, formally displayed in the school lobby, marked yet another crime committed by vandals. The gift of the senior class of 1964 was restored at a cost of about $250.00. Shortly after the tragedy, Dr. Parnell commented that she believed that it was not the amount of vandalism, but the atrociousness of the acts that was on the rise. Perhaps the most vicious assault was the burning of the 1981 senior Homecoming float. At approximately 1:30 a.m., a Sayreville patrolman noticed smoke and flames coming from the garage where the floats were stored. The act was suspected of being directed towards the class of ’81, because gasoline was poured directly on the senior float, but none of the other floats were even touched. The irony of vandalism is the fact that vandals, for a few minutes of so called “pleasure,” destroy the very things that give the more spirited stu- dents satisfaction and enjoyment. The effort and invaluable time devoted to the senior float went sadly unrewarded as the spectators of Homecoming 1981 sought to catch themselves up in the spirit of the day despite the tragic news that echoed over the PA system as they entered the stadium gates. The bare skeleton of the concession stand roof sprawls eerie shadows on its walls, reflecting the barren feelings of the Sayreville student body. Concerned students give their all to make up for the convenience lacking in a make-shift concession stand. The repaired stand brings the crowds and money rolling back into the Sayreville WMHS purse. Vandalism 23