Imperial Valley press., 1942-06-05
Edited bB ANNE HARDY DAVIS
Splendid CommencementTa Talk
ForHish School ByDr. Lee

classes of 1917, declared DR.. Edwin
A. Lee Of u. G. l.. A. who delivered
stirring commencement address
for the 1876 graduates of Central
Union high school Thursday night.
The commencement exercises
were held on the Spartan foot
ball field before a huge audience
which shared the speakers appre-
ciation cf the deep significance of
commencement in 1912.
DR. Lee went on to analyze the
world into which the graduates are
emerging, a world which will seon
draw them into one of three lines
of service:
Fields of Service
First of these is scme form of
service in the armed forces: There
is nothing more important than to
serve this naticn gloriously. There
is no way out but to fight and the
inevitable should be met with glad
ness and satisfaction
Secondly, the graduates are po-
tential leaders IN the professions
and those who have talents and
abilities in the VariCus fields, med
icine, engineering, etc, will go on
TO prepare themselves in these
fields where the opportunities for
service for the natiCn are greater
than that which any generation has
had since 1917.
The third form of service, equally
essential to the successful prosecu-
tion of the war is the manufacture
of "the acCutrementS cf war"
Into one of these three fields,
every one of the graduates will be
drawn, declared the speaker.
New Values
Something has taken mold of
the class of l942-you belong to
the naticn,' said DR.. Lee, pointing
out that the United States is fight
ing to maintain the American way
OF life, and if the nation does not
WA the war. then the commence
ment Of 1912 will have very little
value
Other values involved in the war,
aside from, maintaining this Amer
lean way of life are the spiritual
uplift and eXaltation which ac-
company identification with a great
cause and which can not be eXper-
fenced in times Cf peace and luxury
the feeling of being a part of
something greater than yourself"
Something is happening to Amer
icans-the nation is being made
finer and stronger-patriotism is
being reborn" Youth wants to
capture the faith that made Amer
ican a great nation and with that
faith nation will emerge far su-
perior to that which your parents
have known The war must end
and on the class of 1912 and all
their generation will fall the al
most unbelievable challenge, that
of remaking America.
"If you have the faith that this
America is the most glorious place
in which to live and grow then
the America CT the song, America
the Beautiful will reSult-America,
the beautiful, 'cne nation indivisa-
BILE with liberty and justice for all y
Guy A Weakley, superintendent
of schools and Central principal,
introduced the speaker and in his
opening remarks also pointed out
the significance of commencement
in 1942, saying: Never before has
a class faced a greater challenge
than you face and the challenge Of
10
Award Diplomas
C. f. Gilpin, vice-principal, pre-
sented the class Of 1912 to Roy H.
Womack, president of the board OF
trustees who awarded the diplomas.
The commencement program
opened with the professional of the
graduates to music by the school
orchestra, directed by Stan d. At
kin. In their blue caps and gowns,
and escorted by four Junior girls IL
long white gowns. carrying baskets
of peach colored gladiolas, the pro-
cessional was particularly impress
sive, the graduates filing across the
field to their seats in frcnt of the
speakers platform. Trellis covered
with greenery, the lovely warm
summer night and the effective
lighting made a setting fitting for
the occasion.
DR.. George w. Thomas of the
Presbyterian church gave the in
vocation and benediction and the
music for the program included q
song by the glee club. Begin the
Beguine" tCole Porter, a piano
solo, the Chopin "Deuxieme Scherzo
Opus 81" by LaVerne zavala, ano
the Chabrier "Espana" by the or
chestra.