Graduation Ceremony of the Pomeroy High School Graduation Class of 1918

Source – Pomeroy Herald, Pomeroy, Iowa, Thurs., May 9, 1918, p.1

Don Caps and Gowns
Class of 18 Introduces New Feature in School Life – Heard Fine Lecture
An innovation in high school commencement features was the appearance of the class of ’18 in classic caps and gowns on the occasion of their formal graduation last Friday evening.  The material chosen was not of the customary formal, somber black, but a pretty tone of gray which was pretty indeed.  The graduates appeared in this apparel at both the baccalaureate service and the commencement exercises.  The uniformity of style was a striking feature of the appearance of the class as they came into the stage.  The commencement exercises of the Class of 1918 of the Pomeroy high school were held at the opera house last Friday evening.  Eleven people received the honors of graduation on that occasion. They were Marie Doyle, Ruth Freburg, Esther Swaline, Mary McCulloch, Charlotte Runge, Bess McCrady, Elsie Baedke, Mildred Freburg, George Odiet, Raymond Marple and Knellon Wattonville. The valedictorian of the class was Miss Mildred Freburg, and the salutatorian was Raymond P. Marple.  The opera house was very prettily decorated with the class colors of maroon and white, and with many pretty flowers.  The class flower was the Jack rose.  The Junior class are to be congratulated upon their very artistic job of decorating.
The Program began at 8:15. Rev. Homer S. Baumgardner of the M. E. church, pronounced the invocation, after which the high school male quartet sang, “How Can I Leave Thee.” This was enjoyed very much by the audience and when the quartet responded with an encore they sang “A Perfect Day.” The speaker of the evening was Prof. Glenn N. Merry, instructor in public speaking at the State University of Iowa. His subject was “Thirty Pieces of Silver,” and was brought out in a very helpful manner indeed.  Prof. Merry began his talk by congratulating the class, the faculty, the board and the school in general.  He asserted that he was very proud of the P. H. S. debating team, they having won the championship of western Iowa.  He took his theme for the evening from the Bible.  The main point which he brought out was the fact that people so often try to compare the value in money of the things which are inestimable in value with gold.  He stated that the reason that Germany entered that was because of “Thirty Pieces of Silver” – that she held absolutely no regard for human life, but only for power and money.  He was very enthusiastic over the boys at the front, and congratulated Pomeroy upon the fine delegation of men, which represent her now in France.  He brought out the thought that the idea of the average soldier is the same as the motto of the Class of 1918; “Do Your All.” 
Professor Ladd at this time appeared on the platform and presented the class to C. A. Marple, president of the board of education. He told what is the real purpose of a high school education and recalled the time when such an education was regarded as a luxury instead of a necessity as it now is. 
In presenting the diplomas to the class Mr. Marple called attention to the fact that when the class was in their junior year they had two other members who were not present at the commencement.  They were Ivan Lockie and Carl Johnson, who are now on the front line in France.  They would have graduated with the class this year had they not gone to war.  A member of the class who graduated with them but was not present was Miss Elsie Baedke, who is in the hospital at Hampton, where she submitted to an operation Friday of last week for mastoid.  However, she has completed the course and is granted her diploma.
The program was brought to a close by the benediction which was pronounced by Rev. Bamgardner. Plans for an alumni banquet in honor of the class of ’18 have been deferred until a date in June, pending the arrival home of some of the college students who enjoy participation in the annual reunion of graduates.