ADDRESS, JUNE DAY EXERCISES,
MARYLAND TRAINING SCHOOL FOR BOYS

TOWSON
June 5, 1961

The Superintendent and the Board of Managers of this school have
honored me by inviting me to take part in these Annual June Day
Exercises at the Maryland Training School for Boys. It is a pleasure,
in particular, for me to be here to meet and talk with you boys who
represent such an important group of the future citizens of our State
and our nation. I have known for many years of the splendid work
that has been done by the Maryland Training School in this vital
public function, the education of our youth.

Judge Thomas J. S. Waxter, who directs the State department
under which the school has operated—and who incidentially, was un-
able to come here for these exercises—has informed me that during
the past several years, the Maryland Training School, under the able
and dynamic leadership of the Superintendent, Mr. E. L. Fletcher,
and its Board of Managers, has reached a point in its development
which it must be ranked as one of the finest institutions of its type
in the entire country. Each boy here at the Maryland Training School
is being prepared and assisted to return to his home and to his
community. Over the years, many of the boys who have gone out
from this school have become successful business and professional
men—have developed into fine citizens and become assets to their
communities. Many other boys have gone into military service and
have distinguished themselves, both in time of war and in time of
peace, as good soldiers, good sailors, good airmen and good marines,
in defense of our nation. Many other boys have taken their place
in the community as plain hard-working citizens and have made sub-
stantial contributions to the welfare of the community.

My remarks here today are directed primarily to the boys in the
audience who come here from Baltimore City and the twenty-three
counties of our State. Boys make mistakes, as do men and women and
all others. For who is without sin and error? Sometimes these are
very serious mistakes. It is the responsibility of this school, which
your State has set up and is maintaining, to help you face your
mistakes and to guide you back into the channels of good citizenship
as quickly as possible.

517