St Bernards High School - Bernardian Yearbook (Fitchburg, MA)

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Contents Looking back Senior Candids Administration Faculty ‘75 Portraits Activities Juniors Sophomores Freshmen Supporters

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. yet wave o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave! The Spirit of ‘76 was one of courage, determination, and grit, With many dangers at every turning of the road to be traveled— How could unity be achieved when not only miles separated but Also differences in religion, customs, habits, and temperaments? Overcoming these and other obstacles in the struggle for freedom, Americans showed the world that there could be unity in diversity. Our American heritage is one to be proud of and very challenging. To our founding fathers, freedom was both priceless and fragile, And they told us to always treat and cherish it with great care. FITCHBURG PUBLIC LIBRARY FITCHBURG, MASS.

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Leading the three horsemen riding into the little college town of Cambridge, Massachusetts, on July 7, 1775, was Georg Washington, the Virginian, now in charge of the Continental army. Washington, from the very beginning, set about to discipline his little army of about fourteen thousand. His was no easy tas) and during his first few weeks in Cambridge, he did not hide his dislike for the New Englanders with their blunt, arrogant, in| dependent, argumentative ways. But Minister Emerson who daily visited the cam) could soon write: “There is great overturning in camp as to order and regularity .. Everyone is made to know his place and keep it.” In a few months Washington was better disposed toward the New Englanders Working together, the man from Virginia and the men from New England had bi their combined efforts and deft maneuvers driven the British out of Boston wit! almost no bloodshed. : What won New England’s heart, was not only Washington’s manly, military ap pearance and leadership qualities but especially his utter devotion to the Cause. Thi devot ion is best summed up ina letter he wrote to a general having trouble with can tankerous New Englanders and on the verge of resigning: ‘When is the time for bray men to exert themselves in the cause of liberty and their country, if this is not? Shouk any difficulties ... deter them? ... We must bear up against them, and make the bes of mankind as they are; since we cannot have them as we wish.” | During the cold winter of 1775-76, Henry Knox of Boston, succeeded in transport ing 60 tons of the most useable artillery captured from the British at Fort Ticonderog by Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys. | The cannon that had traveled over 300 miles of snow-covered moutains, frozei rivers,and muddy forests finally came to rest on the hills surrounding Boston Harbor Unable to reach the American’s position from land or sea, Howe and his Britis! troops quietly boarded the ships on March 17, 1776, ready to sail from the harbor, Knox and his men had often been discouraged by the challenges that faced them é almost every turn of the road. Crossing the Berkshire Mountains proved the mos hazardous. Another big opponent was the weather. Warm winds caused the snow t melt and mud and slush beneath the runners of the sleighs made the going slow an) difficult. When the oxen drivers from New York became homesick, Knox let ther return home. But the local citizens came to his aid with a fresh supply of animals an) hired drivers to continue the journey. When the time came for Washington to choose officers for the United State government, Henry Knox was his choice for Secretary of War. July 2, 1776 was hot and sultry in Philadelphia. In spite of a sudden deluge, nearl) fifty delegates already filled the meeting room. The day before showed only nine © the colonies in favor of independence. Congress was out for a unanimous vote as an} disunity could weaken the enterprise. Hopes were high when the vote rose to twelv: in favor. Delaware alone was undecided. Then came a rattle of horse’s hoofs over thi cobblestones and Delaware’s third delegate entered, soaking wet, mud-spattered, an¢ fatigued after having ridden all night. A handkerchief covered the lower part of hii face, afflicted by cancer. “The thunder and rain delayed me,” he said mater-of-factly After his vote in favor, the colonies took the step that severed their 169-year-old po litical ties with England, proclaiming that they are, “and of right ought to be, free and independent states.” On July 4, the Congress endorsed a Declaration that stated the colonies’ many reasons for leaving the mother country. John Hancock, the man from Massachusetts, was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence. The other members of Congress would sign later. It was a big risk as those who signed could be hanged for treason. In CONGRESS, Juty 4. 1776 She unantmrons Declarattort 46 au wun StOfes of SHianerica W Gert asl Lane o domon mas macy fe spat eae he bind bond, whe hancement he whe anethe, wn ry Ar rds trary icra 0 are ory lor Take palit, detapeds ge WOT BS 2 ity wl nin wralisabe Highs, Meat among get ome fb, alibady and the fuss of Mapooals — Tcb-be fase ve tights, fmmononti mi institards ammoney Merv, darving tarp . :