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Generations of Lawrenceans associated with the school at 1400 Massachusetts St. — whether it was Liberty Memorial High School, junior high or middle school — gathered Sunday to celebrate the school’s centennial.
The school, completed in 1923, was a memorial to the youth of Lawrence who did not return from the First World War.
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“Three hundred young men from Lawrence fought in the war, 144 of whom had not yet graduated from high school. Nineteen of these students were killed; Six in France and the others from illness either at home or ‘over there,'” according to the school’s website. “Six high school girls became nurses; “Two didn’t come back.”
Sunday’s event included a moment of silence for those present and a rededication of the building.
There were also performances by the alumni choir and current Liberty Memorial Central Middle School honor choir, Excalibur.
They were directed and directed by former choir director Patricia Boyd, who started the choir in 1976 and was director until 1996, and later by Kevin Hart, CJHS choir director from 2004 to 2011.
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According to the program schedule, the school has been called Liberty Memorial High School (1923), Lawrence Junior High School (1954), Central Junior High School (1960), and since 2011, Liberty Memorial Central Middle School.
A special logo designed to commemorate the anniversary includes a poppy flower, the traditional symbol of remembrance of the First World War.
Attendees were able to tour the building and reminisce after the ceremony.
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Merchandise bearing the Centennial logo was available for purchase. The festival also has an online merchandise store. Exclusive logo sweatshirts, mugs, stickers and other merchandise can be purchased on the River Rat Skate Shop website. The online shop is now open until Thursday, November 30 at 11:59pm ET.
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Molly Adams (she/her), photojournalist and news operations coordinator for The Lawrence Times, can be reached at molly(at)lawrencectimes(dot)com. See more of his work for The Times here. View their staff bio here.
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Molly Adams/Lawrence TimesShare this post or save for later
Generations of Lawrenceans associated with the school at 1400 Massachusetts St. — whether it was Liberty Memorial High School, junior high or middle school — gathered Sunday to celebrate the school’s centennial.
John Napper/Courtesy photo
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