Thomaston High School - Sea Breeze Yearbook (Thomaston, ME)

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sm BREEZE ' - 2 . , - , 1? Our country is new at war. We know this through the news- papers, the commentators, and the sacrifices which we are being asked to bear. But obviously many of us do not know, or realize that our country is fighting not only fer those principles of Democracy, freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom of the press, freedom of the seas, freedom of government, and equality for all, but also for its very life. We were treacherously and ruthlessly attacked. Such a kind of an attacker usually has but one end in viewv-to completely ever- come and place in a state of perpetual slavery that country which it has attacked. We must net, we can not, allow this thing to I happen torus. ' We, the youth of America, are being called to fight for our country and Old Glory.n We are being asked to become living semblanees of the utmost patriotism by willingly giving our minds and our living bodies to the cause of Democracy. Some of us will roturng many of us will not return. We that go shall witness FEE unspeakable horrors ST modern warfare. - ' 'However, some of us will not be able, for various reasons, to enter the armed servicesg but there are many other ways by which we will be and are able to show our patriotism. By new all of us must realize the vital necessity of purchasing as many war bends and stamps as we are able. However, we should not stop there, for there are many ways by which we may help our country hero on the homefront, Wo can aid by volunteering for 'Civilian Defensen duties, by refusing to believe and to pass on war rwnors until they have been confirmed by our government, by being con- stantly on the alert for sabotage or propaganda attempts by the enemy, and by having complete trust and faith in the decisions of our military and naval loaders. These are only a few of the+ ' things which must be performed here on the homofront lf our country and hor allies are to be successful in this global war. There is a job for everyone to do, whether they be young, old, or crippled. From the strongest to the weakest, from the richest to the poorest, I assuredly fool that not one of us will hesitate in do- ing whatever we are asked to do for the bonifit of our countryg for, one and all, we are--we must be--true patriotic Americans. Eugene Jelllsen '44 A Good Neighbors For a long time America has gone about the business of minding its own affairs. This is a very wrong policy as was shown after the world war. The world's business is our business. Our trading and new developments make it so. Perhaps our nearest neighbor is South America. Now, South America is made up of many smaller nations, but most of the people are Spanish, Portuguese or Indians. All of those are friendly with the Americans. The climate in southern South America is very much like ours and produces beef for our consumption. In the northern part, rubber, sugar, coffee and nitrates flow in a steady stream out of their large forests into our modern cities. This

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glL'M,flLCDR4flCCi1lEi5 1 4 v Wire bring hardships! This, by now is an establishedifact in our country. But even so, the difficulties of wer in past d years have been overcome and so the present difficulties must be mastered now. sichools, which are an all important factor to the education and growth of our country, are being hard hit. ,Statistics show thltaout of 6000 Maine teachers, 1000 have gone within the past year into defense industries where they can get more money. Two of our teachers have already left us, one for a better position in Mess. and the other to enter the Waves. School teachers 51nd it hard to get along on their meager salaries in this time o high prices. Another difficulty ls the fact that the draft is calling boys at the ages of 18 and 19 from the schools. The numherwof our students is decreasing gradually as the boys leave for the Service. Among other things is the fact that the ration- ing must be done, and y the teachers. This, of course, takes up time from the regular school hours and forces exit! responsi- b lity upon the teachers. Vacations are fine, but nevertheless we have s regular course of study to follow, and the work must he accomplished. In these wer times additional knowledge is needed and the, schools are trying to readjust their schedule so that they may accomplish this. - Even though we do find war times trying, especially in our school, we are doing our best to adjust surselves, to the situa- tion. However, because of the paper shortage, and other war conditions, our book may not be as long as usual. We have all been working hard on our year book and have tried to bring its guality up to that of other years, and feel that we have done our 88 s ' l We feel that it is necessary for every individual to do his or her part in carrying out our huge war effort. To do this we ' nust make sacrifices, but we must continue to carry on for our , country and its freedom. In view of the fact that our year book takes time, effort, and money, all of which are scarce in these trying times, we wish to express our thanks, especially this year, for the wonderful help and cooperation which the townspeople have given us to make our book e success. WPatriotism, Youth, and the Warn W' ' , ' , L, ' ' ' , '1T ' , , what is patriotism? Is it something which we can concisely explain in a few seconds by the use of one of two nouns, adjec- tives, vcrbals and so on? No, it certainly is not, I feel that Patriotism is something which is almost, if not, indefinable and inexplicable. The importance of patriotism to a country, eepee cially during war time cannot ever be stressed or reiterated too much.

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' ' SEA BREEZE 5 largefbountiful land is very helpful to us now. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, most of the South American countries joined with us in declaring war on Japan and Germany. Because of the Axis monaco, this was one of the most important things that they could have done. Between the two Americas lies the Caribbean Sea and tho Isthmus of Panama, both very important possessions. The Caribbean, because of the supply route to the United States, and the Isthmus of Panama, because of the Panama Canal. Without the Panmna Canal we could not fight a war success- fully in the Pacific. South American nations by declaring war helped to control spy rings and to keep information from escaping to the enemy. Still there is something wrong in our relations with them. Argentina, one of tho most important countries has not broken off relations with the Axis. The Good Neighbor Policy must work both ways. They can't expect to receive only benefits and give nothing in return. This country has good bases for Axis supply rings. They must either break off relations or join our side. We do not want to have Quizlings in our policy. Be Good Neighbors but ox- poct Good Neighbors in return. Elaine Risteen '45 Careless Talk and Rumors Even more deadly than enemy guns are careless talk and rumors. Millions of lives have been lost by careless talk since this war began. Someone hears a report that the.WMaind'is leaving tomorrow at 7:15 a.m. for distant ports. Immediately, Jennie, as we will call hbr,telephones Gertrude the news. They talk excitedly while enemy ears on the wire listen with care. The next week it is learn ed t at the Whainen was sunk by enemy submarines soon after it had started its voyage overseas. Many lives and a ship was lost be- cause Jennie liked too well to talk. ' A soldier telephones his wife that he is leaving in a week for some distant fighting port. The wife teases until he tells her where they are going, and what time they will leave. That after- noon the girl and her friends talk over the war in a restaurant booth. The girl getting excited and wanting to add her share of the conversation, tells what her husband has told her. In the next booth a pair of malicious eyes open wide as he stealthily goes a- way to publish this news to the enemy. ' Rumors spread like a forest fire. One hears something, and it is told time and again, and each time with added information. Some people will believe anything, no matter how absurd it may sound. A propagandist tells that twenty-five American vessels have been sunk People will believe this and then they will ask nwhat is the matter with the United States anywayllu They will be inclined to think we are losing the war and their morale will be lowered. This is just what the enemy wants. Why do we believe stories that we know cou1dn't possibly be true?