Friday, May 23 1969
THE BLACKBIRD
Page 3
The Soul-Searching Sergeant
By BOB O’KEEF
Tile Sergeant was a man.
He was a story-book-sergeant,
always right, always daring,
and always daring, and al
and always victorious. He was
battle seasoned, tough, and
idieal soldier, and a military
genius. He was the kind of
leader who could gain the re
spect of his men just by look
ing at them. He w'as a self-
made man, and he didn’t need
or want :help from anyone.
Elections Bring
New Leadership
For Next Year
Elect “the man” for the
job; vote Kenny Dickerson.
Bob Brantley, Earl Aberne-
thy. and Stewart Edwards for
the 1969-70 President of the
Student Organization! Ab
surd? Well, maybe a little,
but all of these fine young
men seemed so well suited to
fill the highest office attain
able at RMSH. Students were
given a chance to narrow
down their chcoices during a
special assembly on May 6.
As you guessed it, Bari Aber-
nethy struck again with ano
ther victory.
The rising juniors held
their elections for first se
mester class officers on
May 13. One of the highlights
of the campaign assembly in
volved Louise Weeks and her
Mission Impossible skit for
Gay Wilgus. It proved quite
successful, since Gay won the
vice-presidential election. Bill
Daughtridge emerged as pres
ident, while Susan Pittman
was elected secretary and Ann
Pitt as treasurer. The present
sophomores really did their
class a favor when they put
their trust in these competent
people.
Also week before last the
candidates for the rising Sen
ior class officers were an
nounced’ by the nominating
committee. Petition candi
dates had not been announced
when the Blackbird went to
press. For the first semester
the vice-president and secre
tary will come from the pres
ent RMSH student body, while
the president and treasurer
will be chosen from Booker
T. Washington. This proce
dure will be reversed for the
second semester.
We sat poised in the fox
hole for the battle which was
sure to come. I was glad I
was with the Sergeant. There
was no doubt that I was scar
ed. I made no sccret of it.
either. I bowed my head and
prayed' for the courage and
the ability to do my best.
When I looked up, 1 saw that
the Sergeant was intensely
watching my actions. It made
me feel uneasy. I began to
wish I had not prayed; for
his expression was one of ut
ter rejection, a rejection of my
very existence.
“I’ve been through this hell
over and over,” the Sergeant
said. “Don’t take any stock
in some idiotic god. If there
was a god'. I wouldn’t be here.
Neither would you. I hate the
utter thought of religion. All
people who believe in that
stuff are nothing but a bunch
of hypocrites. ‘Love one ano
ther.’ says the preacher,
‘Peace on Earth.’ says the
Bible. Peace on Earth . . .
Hell on Earth!”
I sat gazing into the night-
I knew the Sergeant was
there, but he seemed off at a
distance. The words ‘Peace
on Earth . . . Hell on Earth’
ernbedded themselves on my
mind. “Peace on Earth . . .
Hell on Earth . . . Peace on
Earth . . . Hell on Earth . - .’
I broke down. Tears began
streaming down my face. I
yelled out “Hell on Earth!”
I looked up into the stars,
composed now, and said.
“Dear God. giv6 me peace.”
I noticed the stunned expres
sion on the Sergeant’s face.
It was no longer one of rejec
tion of me, but instead, one of
inward searching. He mutter
ed to himself, “Hah ‘give me
peace’ . . . stupid fool.” He
started to sing, his voice was
without enthusiasm. Finally,
it cracked. He hummed. He
whistled. He became fridgety.
He chuckled. He began to sulk.
Suddenly he cried out. “God
is dead; He must be!”
I shivered. I wondered what
I should say, what I should
do, what I should think. I be
gan to cry again. 1 cried be
cause of despair, of hatred
for the Sergeant, and of hat
red for war.
It was nearly dawn. For the
Sergeant and me, the time
had slowed to a mind-shatter
ing stop, as if a clog had
stopped the sand from flow
ing. We sat. We stared into the
jungle maze earnestly search
ing for our unseen and unes-
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capable enemy.
After more than two hours
of silence, I said, “Do you
really—really think He
exists?”
At that moment a shot rang
out. The Sergeant began a
savage burst of fire trying to
kill his unseen enemy. He re
leased all his built-up emo
tions with what seemed to be
his only friend, the rifle. Sud
denly, he realized his blunder.
He stopped firing, yet main
tained his strong grasp on the
rifle. He was visibly disturb
ed. Perspiration ran freely
down ihis forehead. His breath
ing was jagged. He seemed to
have lost all control of him
self. He had made an unfor
givable mistake, giving away
our position with the cross
firing of his gun. The enemy
had been able to break us
down, and now would move in
for the final blow. The Ser
geant sat, knowing he was
helpless, except for his gun.
He released his firm grip on
it and held it like a mother
would her child. He noticed
my look of pitiable amuse
ment. He dropped his gun and
ever so slowly said. “Oh . . .
Dear ...” almost at a whis
per “. . . God.”
STUDENTS OF THE MONTH are Rotary Couple, Shelley Wil
gus and Kenneth Burnette, and Kiwanis Boy Jim Bailey.
(Photo by Killebrew)
School Leaders Seie(“lcd
Kotary Couple For May
The Rotary Couple for May
is Sliclley Wilgus and Kenneth
Burnette, two ideal examples
of school spirit at its best.
Rotary Girl
Rotary Girl, Shelley Wilgus,
is the daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. James M. Wilgus of 224
S. Grace Street. Shelly is con
stantly on the go, and lier ac
tive participation in many
Kiwanians Honor Artist
As Boy Of The Month
A graduating Senior from
the Class of ’69 should feel
a deep sense of pride and sat
isfaction for his accomplish
ments during his high school
years. Jim Bailey, Kiwanis
Boy for May, is such a senior.
Jim is the son of Mr. and
Mrs. Reese Bailey of 3601
Woodlawn Drive.
A devoted member of tlie
Senior class, Jim has an out
standing record of achieve
ment. His talent as an out
standing musician has been
recognized by the school, for
he has participated in many
assemblies as one of the Let-
terboys. for example. Jim is
an active member of the
RMSH band and has also par
ticipated in various profes
sional bands, among those the
Essex. For his outstanding
achievement in the field of
music. Jim was selected Out
standing Junior Musician.
Since Jim is concerned
about school affairs, he has
actively ^rved as a Student
Organization representative as
well as a member of the AFS
Committee. In addition. Jim
is an active member of both
the Phalanx Club and the Na
tional Honor Society.
Interested in sports as well,
Jim has been a member of
the tennis team for the past
two years.
Even though he will not be
hero next year, the Kiwanis
Boy for May is quite concern
ed about the school merger
next year, and he has given
it much thought. “The great
est problems in the school
merger will .not arise next
year, but rather the following
year. With both school bodies
supposedly unified, there will
be no student involvement
committee to arbitrate be
tween the races. Any serious
problerns that arise then could
result in a dangerous division
of the student body.”
After graduation Jim will
enter Davidson College.
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scliool activities itidicatos her
sipirit. As a member
of the RMSH band, she is
Commander of the Color
Guard. During caoh school
election this year. Shelley had
an important responsibiliiy as
Chairman of the Elec'tions
Committee.
Shelley is an active mem
ber of the Hi-Noc-Ar staff, the
National Honor Society, and
the Black Masquers. Next
year Shelley will be attend
ing Mary ^Idwin College in
Staunton Virginia, whore sihe
plans to major in eitlier Eng
lish or sociology.
Rotary Boy
Rotary Boy, Kenneth Bur
nette, the son of Mr. and Mrs.
L. H. Bumelte of 753 Cedar
Brook Drive, is also quite an
active and proud member of
the Class of ’69. As vice-pres
ident of tlie Senior class, Ken
is respccted as a le;ider. In
this aspect he Iwis sc'rved in
the Student Organization and
as vice-prcsidcnt of ilie Rocky
Mount Optimist Octagon Olub.
Ken really enjoys radio work,
for he is a DJ at WEED radio
station and is president of the
Radio Broodoastors Club at
Senior High. Ken’s favorite
spori is surfing.
At East Carolina Universiityi
Ken piatis to major in Marine
Biology.
FINE
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for ail
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129 WIISTERN AVi;.