The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1920-06-23
TWENTY THREE
GRADUATE FROM
LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL
COMMENCEMENT is BIG EVENT
IN LIVES OF FOUR BOYS AND
NINETEEN GIRLS


Commencement exercises for the
four boys and nineteen girls who
formed the graduating class of 1920
of the Belding High school were held
in the M. K. church, Wednesday even
ing last and the program for the.
evening proved big event in the lives
of the members of the class.
The program started out with sew
eral selections by the High school or
chestra after which Rev. H. E. Curch
gave the invocation. Miss Helen
Hudson then gave a piano solo.
Miss Loretta Shindorf, class salu-
tatorian was III and unable to be pres
ent and her paper was read by Miss
pastor of Park Congregational church
Grand Rapids then gave the class
very practical talk on the difficulties
which would have to be met and over
come through life. The address was
very good and was thoroughly appre-
ciated by the class. The vocal solo,
"The old Mother" by Clayton Knapp,
was very much enjoyed.
Miss Aileen Armstrong, valedic-
torian of the class, then read the pa
per which she had prepared.
Presentation of the class by Prin-
cipal L. Hockstad and the presenting
of diplomas by Byron F. Brown, Sec
retary Of the board of education, came
next and was followed by selection
by the High school orchestra.
The addresses of the Salutatorian
Miss Loretta Shindorf and the VAL
edictorian, Miss Aileen Armstrong,
are herewith published in full, as fol-
lows:
SalutatOry
Loretta Shindorf)
Friends:
The occasion that brings us here
together this evening is a happy one
1t is especially so for the class of
1920. Four years ago we started a
course of study, the end of which we
have now reached. While we congrat-
ulate ourselves on the completion of
the appointed task and are soon to
receive our diplomas as evidence of
work well done, we are not unmind-
full of the people who made all this
possible. Our hearts are filled with
sincere gratitude. Since you have had
a large share in making our COM
mencement possible, we have invited
you to share with us in the joys of
the evening. The class of 1920 ex-
tends hearty welcome to you all.
The years in High school have vi
tally affected our lives. When we en-
tered, we thought merely of living
from day to day and passing time
pleasantly. We soon realized, how
ever, that we were there for a pur-
pose. We have gained high ideals
and desire to make Service" our
watchword. The opportunities for
service in life are unlimited.
Permit me to give one example to
show how the love of service filled
the life of perhaps the most famous
woman of modern times, Florence
Nightingale, the founder of modern
nursing. Her parents who were
wealthy, desired her to live life of
ease and enjoyment to which her birth
entitled her. She, however, decided
early in life that she had a special
service to perform for her fellow-men
and always in the background of her
mind was the idea to become nurse.
She believed that her life should be
a preparation and lost no opportunity
to care for the sick and learn the
methods of nursing. Her parents
sent her abroad to divert her mind
from her chosen work, but it was of
no avail. After years of patient wait
ing an oportunity came for her to
take charge of small hospital where
she worked hard, night and day. Her
great opportunity came during the
Crimean war, when she labored faith
fully among the soldiers to care for
the sick, and comfort the dying. Up
on her return, she worked unceasing-
ly for improvement of health condi-
tions in the British army. She did
much for the elevation of nursing.
for she raised it to the dignity of a
trained calling, and persuaded the
public that nursing was an art, not
eaesily acquired. Did her life of SER
vice count? Although she was born
a hundred years ago, her work still
inspires the army Of noble women
fighting against disease and misery
in the world today.
Much remains to be said, but deeds
speak louder than words We desire
to make good, whatever the place may
be in which our field of work is found
instead of hiding them, we trust that
as the years pass, we may be able TO
render a good account of that we
have received.
The class of 1920 again bids you
most hearty welcome.