Smith Family Gathering in Eureka, SD
V.J. Smith -- Opening Reunion program "Sharing
the Memories"
V.J. Smith, Class of 1973, presented "Sharing the Memories" at the reunion's
opening program. He was kind enough to e-mail a copy of the script from the
program so it could be posted here.
Reading it won't be the same as being there -- you'll miss some of the remarks.
You won't get to hear the alumni chorus and band, both of which were awesome.
You won't be able to hear V.J.'s inflection and timing, or the roars of laughter
and the clapping from the audience.
But we know this program is worth publishing here. Read it and ENJOY the
memories. Here goes:
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V.J. speaking: "Welcome home. Today and tomorrow we celebrate us ... alumni,
family, friends and citizens of Eureka. Some of you in this audience did not
grow up here but were fortunate enough to marry a graduate of Eureka High School
... lucky you.
"During the next hour you will take a trip back in time. Hopefully you will
laugh, reflect and rejoice in our shared experience.
"To begin this celebration, I would ask the people of the audience to please
rise and remove your hats, as the Eureka Alumni Band, under the direction of
Patty (Oster) Baule, will honor America by playing our national anthem.
(Paulette says: Here the band played. It was awesome. And without any prompting,
many people in the audience began to sing along.)
V.J. speaking: "Thank you, Alumni Band members, for sharing your talents. Eureka
has always had great music programs which is a legacy of great instrumental and
vocal teachers.
"Since this is an alumni reunion, it's important to find out how many people we
have from the various classes."
(Here V.J. began a roll call of the EHS Classes, beginning with 2006 and
counting backward, in which he invited members of each class to stand up and
cheer when their year was called. I may be mistaken -- somebody correct me if
I'm wrong -- but I believe the oldest alum in attendance was Helen Golz Opp,
Class of 1935, who was married to the late Bill Opp, who taught in Eureka for
many years. They had four daughters, all of whom graduated from EHS: Doris,
Joyce, Monica and CoRann.)
V.J. speaking: "Welcome back, one and all.
"We are assembled here today because a group of people cared. That group is the
Eureka All-School Reunion Committee. For the past two years this group has
volunteered countless hours, planned various events, raised money, and gave of
themselves, in an effort to bring us together. Here from that committee, is
co-chair is Nina Schumacher Kunz, Class of 1970.
(Here Nina spoke briefly.)
"Thank you, Nina, and thank you to the members of the committee who worked so
hard to make this event a reality.
"Now, to give the official welcome from the City of Eureka, is Mayor Mark Opp,
Class of 1979."
(Here Mayor Mark Opp spoke.)
V.J. speaking: "One more thing. Do you know how old it makes me feel when I know
the batboy is now mayor? (Mark had been the batboy on the Eureka baseball team
on which V.J. had played as a teen-ager.)
"The first school in Eureka was built in 1888. Mrs. McKeever was the first and
only teacher. Rumor has it that when she arrived the morning on the first day of
school, Gary Ackerman and Marvin Moser were already there doing chores. Mrs.
McKeever had 47 students of all ages, and many of them couldn't speak English.
But even then, there was a high priority placed on education which has carried
over to this day. I think I speak for all of us when I say that I would stack up
the education we received here in Eureka to any other place ... period.
"Anyone who had Ann Bauer as a teacher in the sixth grade would agree with me.
She was a great teacher and her math class was tough. Albert Einstein would have
had trouble in Mrs. Bauer's math class.
"Would all of our former and present teachers of the Eureka Public School System
please stand and be recognized by the audience?
"Eureka didn't have kindergarten when I was 5 years old. You started school in
the first grade. That's what we did. I remember we were allowed to visit first
grade for one school day when we were 5 years old just to get a feel for the
place. A then current first grader served as our host for the day. They would
move a small chair beside a small desk, which was occupied by your host, and
that is where you sat all day long ... not having a clue what you were listening
to.
"When you visited on that day, you were expected to stand up, give your full
name, then count to the number 10, just to prove you could. My host for that day
was my sister, Barb. She told me she would be embarrassed if I couldn't count to
10 so she made me practice.
"On that day, when the time came, I stood up when I was called on by Mrs.
Schmitz, the first grade teacher, and I said my name and slowly counted to the
number 10, making no mistakes. I sat down and felt good about myself.
"Then, a future classmate of mine, Kevin Schulkoski, also a visitor that day,
stood up, gave his name and promptly counted to the number 20. In that moment, I
hated Kevin Schulkoski.
"We started first grade in the old grade school. That old building has been gone
for more than 40 years. A big day came when as part of a fire drill exercise, we
got to slide down inside that big tube on the side of the building. Along about
the third grade, the old grade school was torn down and many of us found
ourselves in church basements around town, waiting for the new $365,000
elementary school to be finished.
"In the fifth grade we got to play organized basketball. On the first day of
practice, our coach, Earl Martell, introduced us to something called a jock
strap. It was a wild looking contraption, never seen before by fifth grade boys.
It took a little time to figure out how to put that thing on.
"In the sixth grade, the girls in our class left for one hour to watch a movie.
The boys weren't allowed to go with them. When the girls came back to the room,
none of them talked. They'd seen something. We asked them what the movie was
about. They wouldn't tell us. Obviously they had taken a vow of silence. A few
years later we found out what that movie was about and it turned us silent.
"In junior high we started paying closer attention to what we wore, music, and
members of the opposite sex. We had little parties at our friends' houses, ate
too much chip dip, and made bad attempts at dancing. All of this prepared us for
high school.
"High school. It passed so quickly, but left so many memories. One of the great
times every year was homecoming week. We worked hard all week long building
floats with two by fours, chicken wire and boxes and boxes of tissue paper. We
thought the floats were beautiful, and I still think they were. We had bon fires
and snake dances.
"These things helped create a school spirit. Perhaps the greatest place to show
school spirit was at our athletic events. We won and we lost, we clapped and we
cried. I still remember March, 1966, when I was 11 years old, our undefeated
Trojan basketball team lost to Cheyenne Eagle Butte in the regional championship
game. I couldn't go to the game which was held in Aberdeen because we had just
experienced the famous blizzard of '66. So, I listened to the game on the radio.
I got tired of the radio announcer always saying, 'Ernie Pretty Weasel puts one
up from the corner ... it's good!' I hated Ernie Pretty Weasel.
"A generation before, in 1947 and 1948, Eureka Trojan basketball teams lost in
the state championship games to Webster. Those teams were coached by Lewis
Papendick. Mr. Papendick finished his career with over 700 victories and in 1981
was inducted into the South Dakota Coaches Hall of Fame. Many of us in this
auditorium had Mr. Papendick for seventh- and eighth-grade math. And we remember
his dreaded gig system. It wasn't good to get a lot of gigs in Mr. Papendick's
class.
"We’ve had some terrific coaches over the years. One of those coaches is with us
today. Jim Haar coached in Eureka from 1969 to 1978. He recently retired as the
athletic director at Rapid City Central. Let’s give him a warm Eureka welcome
for coming back to visit us.
(Here Jim Haar spoke. He said V.J. had given him five minutes. "My half time
tirades lasted longer than that," Haar said.)
V.J. speaking: "Now it is time to once again demonstrate our school spirit. The
Eureka Alumni Band will play our school song. Please rise.
(Everybody sang the EHS fight song.)
V.J. speaking: "Church life played, and continues to play, an important role in
this town. Eureka is home to seven churches. That's a lot of churches in a small
town. Saturdays or Sundays are days of worship. Wednesday is church night. You
spend a lot of time in church in Eureka.
"When I was growing up, all the Protestant kids got to attend a week of Bible
School at their respective churches. That happened in late May or early June. We
Catholics did not have Bible School. I had Protestant envy. At noon during Bible
School week, there would be softball games. The Congregationlists would take on
the Baptists. Or the Lutherans would play against the Reformeds. Oh, how I
wanted to play in those games. Instead, I was at home eating tuna fish.
"On reflection, one of the reasons why I'm proud to be from Eureka is what we
learned here. We learned the difference between right and wrong, the importance
of treating our neighbors as ourselves, and that there was something bigger than
us. Church taught us these lessons.
"Those lessons were reinforced by our families. Our mothers and fathers not only
gave us life, they provided a path. It is fitting on an occasion such as this to
reflect on those family members who are no longer with us. Parents,
grandparents, sisters, brothers, uncles and aunts ... those people who enriched
our lives. We can longer talk to them, and it hurts.
"Almost a year ago, I attended the funeral of Carolyn Oster. After the burial
ceremony, I walked around the Lutheran Cemetery and gazed at the names on the
headstones. Played out in front of me was my childhood. Etched in granite stones
were the names of people who were a part of my youth. The father of a friend ...
a farmer who gave my family sweet corn .... a neighbor lady who gave us candy at
Halloween ... a man who let me reel in a fish with his fishing pole while
standing on the shore of Lake Eureka ... a former teacher.
"As I stood and stared at the sea of headstones I realized I wasn't looking at
just names and dates. These people had faces and families and stories and their
lives intersected mine ... I knew them.
"On this day of celebration, we need to be mindful of those loved ones we have
lost. I would ask for a moment of silence to remember those important people in
our lives.
(Moment of silence)
"Ladies and gentlemen, the Eureka Alumni Chorus, under the direction of Earl
Mehlhaff, will now sing 'How Great Thou Art.'"
(The Alumni Choir sang.)
V.J. speaking: "Perhaps no event in our youth held more excitement than
Christmas. The time between Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Eve seemed like an
eternity. In this same auditorium many of us held our Christmas programs. For
weeks we would practice our songs in our classrooms until one day all classes
came together for a dress rehearsal ... here. Teachers would shout orders, class
clowns would entertain those around them, there was constant chatter ... it was
mass chaos. But somehow the program always came out just right ... at least
that’s what our moms and dads told us.
"Back in the 1960s it was OK to depict the birth of Jesus at these programs. The
popular kids got to be Mary or Joseph, or one of the Three Wise Men, or one of
the shepherds. I didn’t even get to be a sheep.
"After the program, many families would jump in their cars and drive around town
looking at Christmas decorations. Do you remember the rows of red stockings
adorning the lawns of the people who lived on the lane we referred to as 'The
New Addition?' The best decorations I ever saw covered the lawn of the Harold
Heilman home, courtesy of son Tom. Even in the daylight I would stand on the
sidewalk in front of their house and stare at that winter wonderland.
"Santa’s pending arrival made our hearts pound. We wanted big stuff and we knew
Santa was the only one capable of bringing us big stuff.
"A month ago I spent time at the Northwest Blade looking at old newspapers. I
wanted to find letters written to Santa Claus. Let me share some of those
letters with you:
"Christmas 1937. Dear Santa Claus, I am a boy 9 years old and I have tried hard
to be a good boy. Please bring me a tinker toy set, a clay set, a target set and
whip that cracks for Christmas. Your little friend, Elial Harr.
"That same year brought this: Dear Santa, I’d like to see you come and drive
your reindeers through the snow. Will you bring me a bicycle and a big train? I
will give you cake and beer. Signed, Albert Neuharth.
"Dear Santa, I am writing you a letter about what you should bring me. Will you
please bring me a bike? I am in the fifth grade. I am 10 years old. I go to the
Orth School. My home is over a mile east of school. I guess I got to stop. I
feel something ripping. Goodbye, Wallace Henry Kusler.
"Christmas 1963. Dear Santa Claus, I want a rifle that can shoot bullets, a
sword, and a gun, and a big brick set and logs. Goodbye Santa Claus. Your
friend, Wayne Frey.
"Christmas 1960. Dear Santa, I am 5 years old and tried to be a good girl. My
brothers want an electric train. I would like a doll house instead of the bride
doll I told you about last week. Your friend, Joni Lapp.
"Christmas 1963. Dear Santa, Is the snow too deep at the North Pole for the
reindeer to run through? I am in the first grade. I would like a trumpet and a
pair of cowboy boots. I like you. Signed, Charlie Mehlhaff.
"Christmas 1965. Dear Santa, We don't write very often so I think it's about
time somebody writes. My friend has Guerilla Poncho and I'd like one, too. P.S.
Wipe off your feet before you come into the house. Your little helper, Charles
Schock.
"Christmas 1983. Dear Santa, I have been trying to be a good boy. I hope your
elves made lots of Stomper 6x6 high risers because that is what I want for
Christmas.
My big brother doesn't believe in Santa Claus so don't bring him anything. That
will teach him. I will leave you some jerky, beer and bubble gum. I will leave
some oatmeal for your deer so I don't have to eat it. Always good, Shannon
Fischer.
"Christmas in Eureka ... God bless us, every one.
"This is a patriotic community. Memorial Day and Veteran's Day hold special
significance in Eureka. The sacrifices and hardships of the veterans of this
community are honored, cherished, and appreciated.
"By the way, when we were kids we learned to say the Pledge of Allegiance with
reverence and dignity. Maybe more people should.
"When I was growing up, the fathers of most of my friends were veterans of World
War II or the Korean War. Those men were the movers and shakers in this
community when I was young. Youth programs sponsored by the American Legion and
Veterans of Foreign Wars were an important part of our growing up in this town.
I'd like to thank those veterans and auxiliary members for all they did for us.
"In 1987, Eureka celebrated its Centennial. There was a poignant moment for me
on the Saturday night of the celebration. It was around 11 p.m. and a lot of
people were milling around the front of the VFW building.
"At about that time, a group of young men -- who were not from Eureka -- did
something stupid. One of them reached up on a light post and pulled out the pole
which bore the American flag. He waived the flag a few times and then draped it
over one of his friends, thinking it was funny.
"Herbert Pleinis, a veteran of World War II, stepped forward, grabbed the flag
and placed it back in its proper holder. He turned to the young men and calmly
said, 'A lot of boys have died for that flag. You should learn to respect it.'
"Herbert died a year ago but I will remember his words for the rest of my life
... 'A lot of boys have died for that flag. You should learn to respect it.'
"We honor Herbert Pleinis and the hundreds of veterans from this community who
responded to the call of duty to serve this nation and its citizens. Many of you
have read or have heard the words written by Father Dennis Edward O'Brien,
lieutenant colonel of the United States Marine Corp. This is what he wrote:
"'It is the VETERAN, not the preacher, who has given us freedom of religion. It
is the VETERAN, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It is
the VETERAN, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the
VETERAN, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to assemble. It is
the VETERAN, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial. It is
the VETERAN, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote. It is the
VETERAN, who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is
draped by the flag.'
"... powerful words.
"On the west side of town, located between Old Lake Eureka and New Lake Eureka
is a memorial erected by the VFW. Chiseled into that stone are the names of 818
people from this community who have served this country. I’m sure there are
more. Many of you in this audience are veterans. To honor you and all those who
have served this nation, I am proud to present the singing group From the Heart
which will sing 'A Salute to the Armed Forces.' The group consists of Nina Kunz,
Margaret Raile and Rhona Glaseman.
(Here, From the Heart sang the "theme song" from each branch of the service, and
veterans stood to be recognized when their song was played.)
V.J. speaking: "The Eureka of today is different in many ways from the Eureka
many of us grew up in. Gone are Wenzel’s Clothing, the Silver Keg, the Red Owl
grocery store, the Lucheonette, the Ben Franklin Store, the Drive Inn, and some
of you remember Bender's Hardware Store.
"That place smelled like a hardware store. I suppose if Al Bender would have
hired a high priced marketing firm from New York to come up with a catchy slogan
it would have been, 'If we don't have it, you probably don’t need it.'
"Gone, too, are the Saturday nights where Eureka's downtown was filled with
people. Many would simply sit in their cars on Main Street just watching other
people walk by ... and then talk about them.
"When I was a kid, walking home from school, I’d go through a lot of alleys.
There were chicken coops along those alley ways. You would stop, reach down and
grab a handful of grass and throw it over the top of the fence to feed the
chickens. Pretty soon those chickens became your friends. A highlight was
finding a live frog and throwing it over the top of the fence. There was bedlam
in the chicken yard.
"The chickens are gone, too.
"So, what's left? Strip away all that we remember, all the places you went as a
child, and many of the people you grew up with. Now take away your car, your
house, your money and all your possessions ... what are you left with?
"You. It's who you are as a human being ... what you believe in ... how you act.
Psychologists tell us that by the time we are 10 years old about 90 percent of
our value systems are in place. The rights, the wrongs, the thou shalts and the
thou shalt nots.
"Your values, the core of your very existence, are shaped by your family,
church, friends and school. It's those things we learned here ... in Eureka. So
no matter where have gone, or what you have become, you have taken Eureka with
you.
"Many people from large cities often look down their noses on small towns. They
like to think we are a little slower, a little less worldly, a step behind. But,
let's see.
"If they want to accuse us of being too trusting, taking people for their word,
then we plead guilty. If they want to accuse us of caring about our neighbors
and our community, then we plead guilty. If they want to accuse us of putting
too much emphasis on God and country, then we plead guilty. Let those people
come to Eureka and witness the values of our founding fathers in action.
"I was born in Eureka ... I learned life's most important lessons in Eureka ...
and when I die want them to say, 'He was from Eureka.'
(The choir then sang "God Bless America.")
V.J. speaking: "Welcome home."
(Presented at the Eureka High School All-School Reunion, July 3, 2006)