Speech given by
Eleanor “Ellie” (Migliazzo) Novara
At the NFHS Class of
1959 – 50th Year Reunion
Friday, September 25,
2009
Good Evening,
I
would like to thank you all for attending our 50th Year Class
Reunion. What a great response! We knew our classmates wouldn’t let us down
as our 50th Year is a
real milestone
not only because of our class reunion, but because our generation is unique
and you all being here tonight is testimony to that fact.
Thankfully
we live in The USA! Our dollar may be
down, but our “Spirit” is up. Niagara
Falls has changed much in fifty years (not all for the better maybe), but those
of us who have chosen to remain in this area attended nearby
Colleges/Universities, found work here, settled down to marry, raise children,
and have or are caring for their elderly parents are rooted deeply in the spirit
of our earlier school days growing up in the area.
It’s
that same spirit shown by your committee that continues to bring all of you back
every five years. We’ve been here for
you!
The
blending of many diverse backgrounds within the community brought us through
many of our early years leading up to this evening. These reunions have kept us in touch with those who live in other
parts of the Country and in some cases the World. We have grown together, sharing many experiences along life’s
way. No matter what we look like
today, we will always remain that young boy or girl with that true “spirit” of youth.
I
can’t tell you how many young people I know, be it (nieces, nephews, young
people I’ve worked with throughout the years) have never attended their high
school reunions. Don’t want to – can’t
be bothered. What’s that all
about? Don’t they realize that that’s
part of our American Heritage? Some of
us came from backgrounds where education beyond High School wasn’t an option
much less graduation. Some of us were
raised by parents who unfortunately were never able to finish elementary school
because of family hardships and had to go out and work. So, graduation for me
was my first educational milestone.
Further education was a gift I gave myself. Living to be here, today for my 50th year reunion is a
real blessing and being with friends who share in these blessings.
We
look forward to enjoying many memories of long ago and with all our hearts will
continue to bring more reunions in the future.
So, let’s not just sit at our tables – get up and find out what others
have been doing the last 50 years. You
will probably be surprised at how much we still have in common.
May
we have a moment of silence for all those classmates who have gone before us
and for those who could not be with us this tonight?
Thank
You – Buon Apettito!