Bridgeport & Richmond 1939-1945 During the years of WW II, I attended Bridgeport School and Richmond Junior Senior High School. At Bridgeport School I remember digging up a section of the school ground to plant Victory Gardens. Like most farmers, we planted in the spring and harvested in the fall. We were encouraged to grow potatoes, carrots, squash and other vegetables that could be harvested in early September. We never knew where the vegetables went but we knew that municipal trucks picked them up. We were also encouraged to buy War Savings Stamps. This happened every Friday afternoon. Each stamp cost twenty-five cents and we filled in sheets with our stamps. When our sheet was completed it could be converted to a War Saving's Certificate. I think each certificate was worth five dollars. While attending Richmond High School, I recall Air Raid Drills being conducted at unexpected times of the day. These were three types of drills that were related to the amount of time given before an enemy attack. If there was sufficient time, we were to be sent home. If we had time to clear the school, we were to run into the potato field next to the school lie down between rows and cover ourselves with a potato sack which we had brought from home. If a raid was imminent we were to take refuge under our desks. I also remember our principal. Mr. Roy MacNeill, reading off the names of our former students over the P.A. system. These names were usually divided into two categories, "Missing in-Action and Killed-in-Action''. Hearing these familiar names was a very sobering experience and brought the "far away" war close to our doorsteps.