of Governor Herbert R. O'Conor 415

NATIONAL PARK COLLEGE—COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES

June 4, 1941
Forest Glen

IT is a happy privilege that has been accorded me to address the young women
of National Park College who are being graduated from this very splendid
Maryland, institution.

Merely to view the delightful surroundings here would suffice to explain the
reluctance that I know the graduated have to saying "Farewell" to their college
days here.. When one considers, in addition, the troubled situation in the world
into which they have in stepping, well may they be pardoned for whatever
hesitancy they have in stepping forth to their respective spheres in life.

With such an abrupt change in individual status looming, after the shelter-
ed years spent within these college confines, undoubtedly the young women who
are making their final collegiate appearance here today have many questioning
thoughts in mind as to the future, and what their part in it will be.

Any attempt to crystallize these thoughts would result, I am confident, in
bringing forth two or three major queries as uppermost in the minds of all. To
begin with, they probably are asking themselves—and well may they ask—
"What kind of a world is this into which I am going?" Next in importance as
a topic for inquiry, would probably be: "What can I do to make the world
better?" Finally, and bringing the whole matter somewhat closer to our
present precarious national situation, doubtless many are asking themselves,
"In this emergency now facing America, what is there that I can do to help
insure the preservation of those things we hold nearest and dearest?"

To young women who have been so favored, from an educational stand-
point, as the young women at National Park College, undoubtedly much will be
expected in the way of leadership and service to Country. There never was a
time in the history of the world when thoughtful leadership was more a requisite
than now; when the gentle, humanitarian leadership of women was more in
demand.

The world all about us, the world into which you young women now are
called to take your places, is one that has suddenly become bereft of much of the
culture and humanitarian principles that have been built up over the last
thousand years.

Not only does inhuman warfare now rage throughout a great portion of the
globe, but even more disturbing than the wars themselves are the inhuman
ideologies that seek to justify them. Whereas in centuries past there was never
any doubt as to the right or wrong of national action, nowadays totalitarian
governmental policies have been so ingrained in the minds and hearts of the
oncoming generation in certain countries that they apparently no longer have
the proper appreciation of the innate values of their actions. They have come,