Peoria High School
World War Two Remembrance
Miss Eleanor B Watson
Dean of Girls, Peoria High School
On a mission:
Remembering Those Who Served
By Bill Robertson, Class of '78
Editor's Note- The following two short stories are from speeches that were given in 2000 in Peoria for Memorial Day.
I remember well heading over to Peoria High School in 2000 to do research for a few speeches I was going to give to my fellow Peorian's attending Memorial Day ceremonies. There are two parts to this article. The first one is Eleanor B Watson, Dean of Girls at PHS during World War II and then Peoria High Graduate Jack Koch, who was killed in the cleanup operations during the Battle of the Bulge. I've cut and pasted excerpts from the speeches below.
"The ultimate defining moment on my search came when Jo Grewell, the Peoria High Librarian, showed me a book that had been assembled during and after World War II. Not only did I get a little emotional but it showed me how much a person can care about others.
Eleanor B. Watson was Dean of Girls at Peoria High from 1927 to 1948. During World War II she took it upon herself to assemble the name of every Peoria High Student that served in World War Two and the branch of service they were drafted or enlisted. It also listed the street address of where that individual grew up, status of that individual after the war. It also listed KIA for Killed In Action, POW for Prisoner of War and for some the medals or decorations given to them for a service or act. It affected me deeply.
I grew up on the West Bluff in the Uplands. Many names and families were right from the area I grew up in. I began to think of sacrifice in a different way. It was becoming very personal. By looking at the past and the sacrifices these young men and woman made I gained a deeper understanding of what it takes to make our country and yes, Peoria a better place to live.
To maintain the freedom that we all enjoy today. These “Students” sacrificed themselves for their country so that we would not live under the oppression of the Axis during World War II. The book left a deep impression on me. As for Eleanor B. Watson, the Dean of Girls, she did us all a huge favor by taking the time to remember all of those students who served from Peoria High School. She took it upon herself to make sure that all the veterans were remembered and their service recorded so that others may understand just by looking at the book that our freedom isn’t free. It comes at a price. Sometimes the ultimate price----your life. They gave selflessly to the nation in a true time of need. Common people in an uncommon desperate struggle.
Miss Watson kept a tally at the end of her book. 2233 Peoria High Students in service. 88 killed in action. 1 still missing. An incredible accounting of the service of the graduates from Peoria High School. She cared enough and felt personally responsible to remember. She knew the consequences of defeat should they fail in their mission. We should all remember the consequences if our armed forces fail in their mission. We should all take a moment everyday to thank those veterans past and present for their service. We enjoy freedoms not found anywhere else on this planet. As for the future defenders of freedom... Everyday they need to prepare to uphold, defend and sacrifice for what this great nation stands for. We need to follow the Eleanor B. Watson example and remember those warriors who have served when the nation called. They built our freedom and liberty on the foundation and principles of honor, courage and sacrifice. Americans have fought and died for principles of freedom and democracy in every corner of the world. These Americans exemplify the concept of service before self. We must never forget—and always preserve—the ideals they fought and died for.
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