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1976/06/07 - Central High School Graduation, Grand Rapids, Michigan
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1069120
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1976/06/07 - Central High School Graduation, Grand Rapids, Michigan
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Frances K. Pullen Files
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President (1974-1977 : Ford). Office of the First Lady. 1974-1977
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The original documents are located in Box 2, folder "1976/06/07 - Central High School
Graduation, Grand Rapids, Michigan" of the Frances K. Pullen Papers at the Gerald R.
Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Scanned from Box 2 of the Frances K. Pullen Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
Final Draft
Revised, Central High School Graduation Remarks
It is truly an honor for me to return to my own
high school after 40 years. That seems a very long
time ago. The class of 1936 and the class of 1976 are
many years ago and many changes apart. But I believe
each class of graduates and parents have similar emotions
and expectations on graduation day.
I've shared this day with my four children, and I
understand. what a sad-happy day this is for all of you.
For graduates, this marks an end to a very special time
in your lives. You will always remember the friends and
the fun, but you are looking today toward new adventures.
Today you begin to take more control of your own
life and to pursue your own special dreams. That's both
exciting and a little scary.
As your parents and friends watch you start the
adventure of more education or a job, they share your
excitement. As all parents do, they want good things for
you.
I'm sure every mother in this audience remembers the
Page Two
first day you went off to school. The same mixture of
high hopes and just a little pain are somewhat the same
today.
We really can do little more than encourage you to
follow your own dreams and to assure you of our support.
To trust and believe in yourself is the best advice we
can give. We do hope you will grow as individuals and
continue to learn more about the world around you.
What makes America special is that each individual
can make his own personal promises about what he wants
to do with his life.
When we talk about the American dream, we really
are talking about the collection of all our dreams. Your
expectations will be matched by surprises and disappointments.
But I've found the true excitement and challenge of life is
to expect the unexpected.
As I watched my children graduate, I wanted each of them
to have the strength to accept challenges and the courage
to overcome defeats. My hopes for them are the same for
you today and all young people may you have laughter,
friends and joy. May you live up to the best in yourselves.
In this Bicentennial year, may you use the liberty
America gives us to make the world a better place.
-0-
Similar to Deaft used
Revised, Central High School Graduation Remarks
It is truly an honor for me to return to my own
high school after 40 years. That seems a very long time
ago. The class of 1936 and the class of 1976 are many
years and many changes apart.
Your studies, clothes and future jobs are different
from those of my generation. But I believe each class of
graduates and parents have similar emotions and expectations
on graduation day.
I've shared this day with my four children, and I
understand what a sad-happy day this is for all of you.
For graduates, this marks an end to a very special time
in your lives. You will always remember the friends and
the fun, but you are looking today for new adventures.
Today you begin to take more control of your own lives
and to pursue your own special dreams. Whether you continue
your education or start a job, you will make your own
decisions. That's both exciting and a little scary.
As your parents and friends launch you on this adventure,
they share your excitement. As all parents do, they want
good things for you.
I'm sure every mother in this audience
Page Two
remembers the first day you went off to school. The
same mixture of high hopes and just a little pain are
somewhat the same today.
We really can do little more than encourage you to
follow your own dreams and to assure you of our support.
We hope you will continue to grow as individuals and
to learn more about the world around you.
I think of the lines from the poet George Santayana:
"It is not wisdom to be only wise, and on the inward vision
close the eyes, but it is wisdom to believe the heart. "
To trust and believe in yourself really is the best
advice we can give.
You are unique
with talent, energy and ideas only
you can give to your community and to your country. What
makes America special is that each individual can make and
keep his own promises to himself.
When we talk about the American dream, we really are
talking about the collection of all our dreams. Your expectations
will be matched by surprises and disappointments. But the
excitement and challenge of life is to expect and accept
the unexpected. I've found that so important in my life.
As I watched my children graduate, I wanted each of them
Page Three
to have the strength to accept challenges and the courage
to overcome defeats. My hopes for them are the same for
you today and all young people may you have laughter,
friends and joy and may you live up to be best in yourselves.
In this year of our Bicentennial, may you use the
liberty American gives us to make the world a better place.
-0-
Central High School Graduation Remarks
It is truly an honor for me to return to my own
high school after 40 years. That seems a very long
time ago. Although you and I studied in the same
building, many things have changed at Central High
School ) The class of 1936 and the class of 1976
are more many than years apart, because of many events
and
apart.
and changes in the world.
The hum subjects you studied, the clothes you wear
and the Inture jobs you will have are different from those
of my generation. But I believe each class of graduates
and parents have similar emotions and expectations on
graduation day.
I've shared this day with my four children, and I
know what a sad-happy day this is for all V of you. For
graduates, this marks an end to a very special time in
your lives. You will always remember the friends and
the fun, but you are looking today for new adventures,
Today is more a beginning than an end. Today you begin
to take more control of your own lives and to pursue your
own special dreams.
Whether you continue your education or start a job,
Page Two
you will make your own decisions. That's both exciting
and a little scary. (Your life will never be as
structured and predictable as it has been in the past.
There will be fewer required courses and more electives.)
As your parents and friends launch you on this
adventure, I know they share your excitement. As all
parents do, they want good things for you.
I'm sure every mother in this audience remembers
the first day you went off to school. The same mixture
of high hopes and just a little pain are somewhat the
same today.
We really can do little more than encourage you
to follow your own dreams and to let you know we will
back you up. We all hope you will continue to grow
learn more
as individuals and to keep educating yourself about the
a
world around you.
I think of the lines from the poet George Santayana:
"It is not wisdom to be only wise, and on the inward vision
close the eyes, but it is wisdom to believe the heart."
To trust and believe in yourself really is the best advice
we can give.
and ideas
You are unique with some talent and energy only you
can give to your community and to your country.
Page Three
What makes America special is that each individual can
make and keep his own promises to himself.
When we talk about the American dream, we really
are talking about the collection of all our dreams.
You graduate with many expectations, and no doubt will
encounter disappointments and surprises. But what makes
reuse
America exciting is that all of us can expect the unexpected.
I've found that in my own life and my friends.
You begin with your own hopes and talents and what
happens will not always be as you plan. But if you do
believe your heart and discipline yourself to be the
our
best you can be, I⁻believe you will find many rewards.
(I I think of the parable of the talents in the Bible
and of the man who used his one talent well. What is
important in our lives is not what we have in the way
of intelligence and talent, but what we do with these
gifts)
As I watched each of my children graduate, I wanted
each of them to have the strength to accept the challenges
and the courage to overcome the disappointments. My hopes
for them are the same for you today and all young people--
may you have laughter, friends and hope and may you live
up to the best in yourselves.
Page Four
In this year of our Bicentennial, may you
use the liberty America gives us to make our
world a better place.
-0-
Central High School Graduation Remarks
It is truly an honor for me to return to my
axx own high school after 40 years for your
graduation. That seems a very long time ago,
and although you and I studied in
the same building, many things have changed in
this city and in the country.
BNX
The XM subjects you studied, the clothes
you wear and the country you live in are all very
I believe
different from the class of 1936. But each class
and parents
of graduates has many similar emotions and expectations
on graduation day.
I've shared this day with my four children, and
I know what a sad-happy day it is for all of you.
For graduates, this marks an end to very special time
in your *** lives the friends you've made and the
fun you've had will be remembered for many years to come.
But today is more a beginning than an end. Today you
begin to take more control of your own lives and to
pursue your own special dreams.
Whether you continue your education or start a job,
you will be making your own choices. That's both
exciting and a little scary. Your life will never
again be as structured and predictable as it has
been during your school years. Fewer decisions will
be made for you, and more choices will be ***** yours.
As your parents and friends launch you on this
adventure, I know they share your excitement. As
all PXE parents do, they want good things for you.
I'm sure every mother in this audience thinks
about the first day hx her EXI child went off to school.
That same mixture of high XEN hopes and just a little
pain are somewhat the same today.
Those of us WX who are older xxxx really can do little
more than encourage you to follow your own pakex
dreams. We all hope that you you will continue to grow
and learn.
I think of the lines from the poet George Santayana:
"It is not wisdom to be only X wise, and **** on the
inward vision close the eyes, but it is wisdom to believe
the heart." That theme of "to your own self be KNK true"
is really the best advice we have.
Youare мицхи MN4 unique without another duplicate in
the world. You have something that only you can give
to your community as and to your country.
2
Revised, Central High School Graduation Remarks
It is truly an honor for me to return to my own
high school after 40 years. That seems a very long time
ago. The class of 1936 and the class of 1976 are many
years and many changes apart.
Your studies, clothes and future jobs are different
from those of my generation. But I believe each class of
graduates and parents have similar emotions and expectations
on graduation day.
I've shared this day with my four children, and I
understand what a sad-happy day this is for all of you.
For graduates, this marks an end to a very special time
in your lives. You will always remember the friends and
the fun, but you are looking today for new adventures.
Today you begin to take more control of your own lives
and to pursue your own special dreams. Whether you continue
your education or start a job, you will make your own
decisions. That's both exciting and a little scary.
As your parents and friends launch you on this adventure,
they share your excitement. As all parents do, they want
good things for you.
I'm sure every mother in this audience
Page Two
remembers the first day you went off to school. The
same mixture of high hopes and just a little pain are
somewhat the same today.
We really can do little more than encourage you to
follow your own dreams and to assure you of our support.
We hope you will continue to grow as individuals and
to learn more about the world around you.
I think of the lines from the poet George Santayana:
"It is not wisdom to be only wise, and on the inward vision
close the eyes, but it is wisdom to believe the heart."
To trust and believe in yourself really is the best
advice we can give.
You are unique with talent, energy and ideas only
you can give to your community and to your country. What
makes America special is that each individual can make and
keep his own promises to himself.
When we talk about the American dream, we really are
talking about the collection of all our dreams. Your expectations
will be matched by surprises and disappointments. But the
excitement and challenge of life is to expect and accept
the unexpected. I've found that so important in my life.
As I watched my children graduate, I wanted each of them
Page Three
to have the strength to accept challenges and the courage
to overcome defeats. My hopes for them are the same for
you today and all young people may you have laughter,
friends and joy and may you live up to be best in yourselves.
In this year of our Bicentennial, may you use the
liberty American gives us to make the world a better place.
-0-
rongh draft
Central High School Graduation Remarks
It is truly an honor to come back to my own
high school after 40 years for your graduation
exercises. I know what a special day this is
because I've shared it with my four children.
This really is a sad-happy day for parents, because
we look at our grown-up children and
remember other days.
I wonder if there is a mother in this audience
day
who doesn't think today about the first XIMS her
child went to school. We send you off to school
just as we send you off today with high hopes and
just a little pain.
Graduation in a way is like going off to the
first grade, but this time will be going off on your
own. Perhaps you will continue your formal education
or begin your life's work, but whatever your path,
you will be more in control of your own life. That's
an exciting prospect.
You have your own special hopes and expectations.
I am happy to share this special day in your
lives. I am closer to how the parents and X friends
of the graduates feel today than perhaps the class
of 1976. This is a sad-happy day for parents. A
parent looks at the high school graduate and sees
a little boy or girl the first time on a bxek
bicycle or remembers watching that small figure
walk in into the classroom for the first time for
so many years ago.
Now here you are today
XM on the threshold of another beginning. Th Graduation
is in a way like going to the first
grade, but this time you will be on your own
perhaps
a job, more education, life more X under your own control.
It is both exciting and a little frightening, and there
is so little to say as you begin this adventure.
I think about my own graduation 40years ago
how
time does fly. Although much has changed in this country,
each generation brings to its task a new perspective.
You carry within yourself the potential for personal
growth
for exploring new frontiers for seeking out
To
me, XNE America remains the most exciting country
in the world, because each individual can become the
best of what he wants to be.
We talk about the American dream, and that X really
is a collection of all our X dreams.
Youx start out duay today with many expectations, and
no doubt W you will encounter disappointments
and surprises. But what really is exciting in our
country is that each of us can expect the unexpected.
You beging ¥ withyour own talents and hopes, and what
happents will not always be as your plan. But if you
do believe your heart and warkx discipline yourself
to be the best you can be I belive you will find many
rewards.
I think of the parable of the axex talents in the
Bible, and of the man who used his one talent well.
What is important in all our lives is not KX what we have
been given in the way of intelligence and talent but
what we do with these gifts.
As I XW saw each of my children graduate, I hax
hadxax wanted a good life for them with friends, family,
work to give them a place love, surprises and I hoped
they would have the strength to accept the challenges and
and the grace to accept their blessings. My hopes
for them are the same as I have for you today and
for all young people - good work, qudxquax good friends
and unexpected tests of their courage and their abilities.
To each of you
the same.
-0-
Tough Draft a sheila thought BF could wt handle!
Revised Remarks, Central High School Graduation
It is truly an honor for me to return to my own
high school after 40 years. That seems a very long
time ago. The class of 1963 and the class of 1976 are
many years and many changes apart.
Your studies, clothes hopes and future jobs are different
from those of my generation. But I believe each class of
graduates and parents have similar emotions and expectations
on graduation day.
I've shared this day with my four children, and I
understand what a sad-happy day this is for all of you.
For graduates, this ends a very special time in your lives.
You will always remember the friends and the fun, but
you are looking today for new adventures.
Today you begin to take more control of your own lives
and to pursue your own special dreams. Whether you continue
your education or start a job, you will make your own
decisions. That's both exciting and a little scary.
As your parents and friends launch you on this
adventure, they share your excitement. As all parents do,
they want good things for you.
and father
I'm sure every mother in this audience
remembers
the first day you went off to school. The same mixture
of high hopes and just a little pain are somewhat the
same today.
It
S
hard to know what words will help
guide
you
and which ones you are prepared to accept.
Each generation finds
its own joys and reacts
to its own pains. Your goals and hopes for yoursel
and your country are
different from those of your
parents.
I
believe 1976 is a grand time to be young. The
Nation has a worklist of problems to be solved, but it
has
many resources to do SO.
Your talent, imagination and hard work can help.
We are just emerging from a turbulent period, and this
is a time of reevaluation. After a period of extreme
doubt and agitation, there is a danger of settling into
complacency. I hope your generation helps keep
America from becoming ********* self-satisfied.
Despite important gains in unha achieving equal
rights and responsibilities for ****** women and racial
minorities, inequities and injustices remain.
Despite our technological achievements, we still
face an energy crisis.
The failures of past generations always fall to the
young
But be
encouraged by America's triumphs and by
the personal achievements of those you admire.
I wish for you today what I wished for my child ren
on their graduation days - may you be the best you can
be and may you leave the world around you a better place.
-0-