Sheffield High School - Sentinel Pines Yearbook (Sheffield, MA)

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SALUTATORY ADDRESS It is my privilege and pleasure as salutatorian of the class of 1951 to welcome you, who are gathered here tonight, our parents, the faculty, and our friends to this our graduation exercise. The time has arrived which we have eagerly anticipated for many years. Just as we awaited our report cards, experienced the worry before a basket- ball game, the preceding uneasiness of taking part in the Senior play, the enjoyment of the school picnic, or the excitement of the Junior-Senior Prom, so we have looked forward to this milestone in our lives Graduation. Now the long journey is almost over. In a few minutes, upon receiving our diplomas, graduation will have become a realization. This day has deep significance to all of us here upon this platform. We have reached an important point in our lives. The time has come when we must step out alone, from the shelter of home and school; and each, to the best of his ability, must be prepared to accept a share of the respon- sibility which is the heritage of all members of our society. Since childhood our parents have protected us from the fears of an un- known world; then, as we took our first step into society, we were still sheltered. Even from our first days at school our interests and attitudes have been molded by the kind guidance of our teachers. As we advanced to higher levels and our horizons broadened, our opinions were still greatly influenced by our schoolmates and teachers. In any year, it is a serious matter to sever the ties of childhood and take a place, no matter how unimportant it may be, in a mature world. In this year of 1951, however, when our country is facing grave danger from without and within, and when our very way of life is threatened, we, to- gether with all other young people graduating from high schools throughout the land, must be willing to stand beside the men and women who are working to preserve our country and all that it stands for. Today, more than ever, the world crisis demands that each of us must try to combat such things as communism, racial discrimination, and religious prejudices and strive to the utmost to uphold such great units of democracy as the United States and the United Nations. The turmoil of our country at this particular time is realized by students entering the adult world. We keenly recognize the fact that what happens in the future will be reflected upon us. It is difficult at any time for a graduate to enter society and choose his life-time career; especially is this perplexing to us tonight, with the world in its present state of uncertainty. We are fortunate to have had our years in school at Sheffield. We feel we are as well-prepared as any student to face whatever may be ahead. We have been prepared by what we have learned in the classrooms, by the skill- ful guidance and training we have received from our teachers, and by the pleasant association with our fellow pupils. This preparation has fitted us with the necessary foundations for getting along with those whom we may come in contact in the future. From our anticipations of tonight will come those greater expectations of the future. We will continue to appreciate the values we have received here at Sheffield High School. In behalf of my fellow classmates I again bid you a most sincere wel- come . 15

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GRADUATION EXERCISES Processional (Audience Standing) Invocation Reverend Ralph Rowse Salutatory Address Ilamay Petersen Song of the Angels - A Rubinstein . Girls ' Glee Club Valedictory Address Austin Somes Cupids Heart - E= Ascher Orchestra Address to Members of Senior Class Song of Farewell (Lyrics-Jenny Johnson (Music by) , .Members of Senior Class Presentation P.T.A: Awards President P=T,A. Presentation Scholastic Awards . . . . H. V. Hennigar, Principal Song Nightfall - F. Liszt Glee Club Benediction , Reverend Ralph Rowse Postlude (Audience Please Remain Seated) 14

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VALEDICTORY ADDRESS Parents, members of the faculty, ladies and gentlemen: Tonight, we, the class of 1951, will say farewell to Sheffield High School and go out into the world on our own. No longer will we have our teachers and parents to guide us. From now on we shall make our own decisions. We shall have to decide for ourselves what kind of work we will do and how we will do it. Will we pitch in and work energetically or will we take life easy? Today, in America, there seems to be too many people who take life easy. They try to spend as little time as possible on their jobs. Some don ' t bother to have a job at all. These are the people who stay at home and live on the unemployment insurance provided for them by the others who work for a living. We see men today during time of crisis who go out on strike for better wages and shorter working hours. Many farmers are being reimbursed by the govern- ment if they don ' t earn enough from their main crops. Maybe these people feel they have a right for this extra income, but they are actually losing out. You can ' t get something for nothing, and this includes this business of getting wages for no work. If this keeps up, our country will shortly be bankrupt and the government overrun by Socialists and Communists. We should also learn from history that when the people of a country think more about amusing themselves than working, the nation will become very weak and easily conquered by its enemies. An outstanding example of this was the Roman Empire. In the early days of the Empire the people were energetic and willing to work and Rome became the center of the civilized world. However after she had attained this position, the people grew lazy and thought only of amusing themselves. Soon her government became corrupt and was run by dictators. Finally Rome fell before the weaker German tribes from the North. We should keep in mind that today we Americans are the envy of the rest of the world. We have the most freedom and are the best off economically of any nation on Earth. It should be remembered, however that our forefathers had to fight, toil, and labor unceasingly before they raised our country to its present glory. As we leave here tonight let me again remind you that what we do from now on will by by our own decisions. Let us decide that whatever we do, whether we are in the Armed Forces or stay at home, we will work to keep America what it is today. We will pitch into our jobs wholeheartedly. We will take part in our government and express our opinions and beliefs on how to improve it. We will pay our taxes cheerfully even though it means going without some of the things we would like to have. If we can do these things, we will be able to keep America a fortress for freedom and liberty which no enemy can crush. 16 ait jfl