Evening journal., 1920-02-16
HONOR HIGH
SCHOOL HERO
Slain BY WAR
Continued from First Rage

Mrs. George ]. Speer, mother OF h'
dead soldier; Miss Alice Sp1er, his sis
Ter and George Speer his brother
with a number OF members OF his class
Wilmington High school 1902 were
given plae.s Of honor on tho rostrum
There were many visitors present u
addition 10 the student body. In th'
absence of Principal 4. II. Berlin, WIG
deenlv regretted that continued illness
nrevented his attendance, Professor
Barkley. OF the History Department
presided ,..,a.
In addition TO the memorial tablet
he elff of the class of 1909, announce
noenf was made this morning, Dy Julu
Rossell OF another memorial 70 the
dead soldier 10 be given TO the school
nv the Speer family. These VIII De IVY
annual prizes. Of $40 each, one Tor youhs
women one for young men, TO he given
the graduate attaining The highest az er-
.gs In mathematics. They Will u.
T5ov,n as the Jacob Ferdinand speei
Memorial Prizes ..,1o,
Initial steps for the bronze taDies
memorial were taken by Dr. ); p~lspol ~
brown and Fred w. kurtz' OF the class
d, 1900 on the committee 10 secul !
and present the tablet We're appoil.l.Sl -
Mr.. and Mrs. j. Harmer hiie, W. % %naIi
Witsil. W. Carlisle Hemphil. Mss MaIs
lstes. Miss Helen Bradford, OF tne jun jun
.ectlon Of the class; Emil Iopkis' Niss
carrie We'll and Miss Mary hrelci, ol
no February section The presentation
sneech was made by Joseph lalnali'
PRESIDENT OF the cl9ss Of 1909 june sec.
ION. Superintendent Clifford j. ocot'
made the speech Of acceptance.
I'VE tablet is OF heavy bronze - ~
es inches In size. Of simple ana elet ,.lt
9esien. an unusually handsome and dls-
tincilve example OF bronze craftsman
The lettering upon the memorial Is as
follows:
Jacob Ferdinand Speer
ueadg,parters 35sth. L. ; Infantry
Wilmington High School
Glass Of 1909
Rorn in Wilmington. Delaware,
August %. 1921
Killed in Action at
Madelaine Farms. France
~ ihn Meuse-A Arg0nne OuensNe
"f''on October 22 1918.
This Tablet is Erected by HIS
Classmates.
Preceding the presentation. appro-
n-late z,usical selections were sung by
no school under the direction OF Miss
ann storm. and played by the orches-
ira. under the leadership oil @onh -
Taylor. a,.,.,.
''In FLANDERS Fieds" and Americas
Reply" were well recited by Miss Jessie
Nilsson. and 81 Have a RenuezNous WIN
Death was given by Miss Dorothy
siursis ,ooo
i uarmer Rile. OF the class Of 1909,
nreseuted the speakers. He recalled the
lavs eleven years ago. when 1909 occu-
nisd the front seats OF the school audi
ioriunl with Miss Hopes FOR their
.n,irslav He smoke Of the firm feeling
~ hrofherhood that united the class OF
1000 and of the great shock that came
N them an in the news OF the death
of their fellow classmate, jacob ferui-
nand Speer.
In his spcech OF presentation and ded-
ieation of The memorial tablet, Joseph
Tatnall. president OF 1909, said. IN part
III is flve years since have seen the
inside Of the Wilmington High school.
Like Tom Brown, revisitins kugDy' ills
morning memories OF i've years Witllh
these walls come back to me. IL was
my proud privilege TO grow up win
Ferdinand Speer. We attended together'
Friends kindergarten, Rodney Sfcss
presbyterian Sunday School. NO.
school No. 2i School, and in June. 1902
graduated together upon this PLATFORM.
~ knew Ferd Spear as few fellows
i,d This fact Is outstanding abOut
Mn, he was a scholar He led the class
tbrouqh those 1--WE years. An equally
s,ood record at Cornell was cut snort
~ his iunior year by the death OF ms
other makinc it necessary for him 70
fsta I'm his fathers business. His very
.r,ccessf,,l business career was likewise
mi short by his service and death IN
sbe cause OF humanity and Of his coun-
sFerd speer was characterized by his
absolute sincerity in all things. In
what better way could our nero OF
<a0q and OF the High School sacrifice
Sis NE than in the cause Of humanity.
Ia NOT mourn his death. He IS not
.iead HIS courage and spirit live on,
an inspiration for US.
..nr scott. on behalf of the class OF
is09. we present This tablet whlch we
ave had placed upon the wall IN ioN-
ng memory OF Jacob Ferdinand Speer,
nat his memory may ever remain
sresh In our hearts
DR.. Scott replied "Ihe wilmington
High School is proud Of The war record
n her sons. We deeply grieve that
,nanv were called upon TO give their
ives. some in camp. Mr.. Speer upon the
neld OF battle. They are our heroes.
The memory Of their names, and their
example OF courage and patriotic serN-
20 are our rich heritage. II is ttting
md gratifying to us that q memorial
should be placed at the entrance OF uis
ihelr school, so an VINO enter may see
and gain o lesson.
Following The unvsiling, John :.
aossell president Of me security
trust and safe Deporit Company. con-
geyed TO the class Of 1909 the sratiNiae
Il the Speer family for the bronze
mortal. and announced the prizes g
established as a permanent meu
ly the Speer family.
Speaking his own tribute, Mr.. hoss
said:
Il knew Ferdie Speer well: knew
lis thoughts and ambitions. his lofty
ideals. aud his love for his friends
am glad other speakers have told Of
bis absolute sincerity.
II cannot express 70 you the feeling
that overcame me when news was re
oeived that Ferdinand Speer was killed
I was expecting similar news OF on,