The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-06-05
Memorial Day.


Memorial day has come and gone, mark |
ing another milestone in the journey of the
boys in blue. who, whether living under the
skies of Heaven or sleeping the years of
their manhood away" beneath the sacred
sod, laid themselves upon the altar of patri-
otto devotion.
However much the sky may have dark
ened and the rain poured in the afternoon,
Saturday morning was as bright and pleas
ant as could be wished. The procession
headed by the Owosso drum corps, was
formed in front of the city hall. large
wagon furnished by Aid. M. l.. Parker and
drawn by four horses, carrying load of
seventy little girls In charge of Miss Gertie
Galusha, was pretty sight. Co. G, the
boys of 100, escorted the boys in blue of
'61-'65 and conported themselves in very
creditable manner. Following the remnants
of that grand army, which stood in defence
of our country's life, came the Woman's
Relief Corps while many school children
participated in the procession and learned
the solemn lesson of the day.
Forming a hollow square about the SOL
dier's lot, the G. A. r. Post and staff con-
Quoted the beautiful and impressive cere-
monies of their ritual. The little girls sang
Slower them over with beautiful flowers"
salute of three guns was given by Company
G and the exercises at the cemetery were
closed. Co. G has two former members
buried in Oakhill cemetery, and proceeding
to these graves, three volleys were fired
above each grave and wreath placed there
on.
About noon the clouds which had been
hurrying hither and thither began to darken
and by half past one pouring rain came
down as If the heavens were mingliDg tears
with those shed over the graves of departed
heroes.
At three o'clock the Chesaning cornet
band headed the procession which marched
into the armory. Co. G, the G. A. r., w.
r. c., A. o. u. W., and X. o. Il. M. So
cieties found seats reserved for them and in
short time the auditorium and gallery
were filed with an interested audience.
After a stirring march played by the band,
Mayor Curry, who presided, announced the
the reading by AdJt. T. M. Wiley of gen.
eral orders No. 4, Dept. of Mich, G. A. r.
This order urged that Memorial day was
not one for games and sports, and it must
be pleasant to the veterans that such des-
ecration of the day had never occurred in
Owosso.
it,or lie he vuith
Brethren, salute the dead" Commander
Herman Frieseke said that motives of hui
manity rather than department orders
inspired these memorial services and made
them what they were.
An excellent vocal quintet, 1--WE deck
their graves" was sung by Messrs w. A.
Sparkling, V. r. Pond, III. Wickham, G. G.
Duff and j. B. Mcintosh, after which Rev.
j. G. Cromer offered fervent prayer.
Twenty children sang patriotic song
which was loudly applauded. Miss Maud
Gilbert recited poem addressed to the G.
A. r. and written for this occasion by Mrs.
V. M. Moreau. The thought of it was that
we of today would not, could not forget the
old soldier nor fail to keep alive the services
of Memorial Day. Miss Gilberts rendition
of it was excellent. After song by the
quintet, Our hero soldiers shall never
march again." Mayor Curry introduced
Hon. j. w. Turner, who said that our two
great days came at appropriate seasons of
of the year, the fourth of July in the time
of ripening summer, suggesting the fruits
of the revolutionary struggle of '76, and
Memorial Day in May, the month of flowers.
We did not appear to honor the mere soldier
and had perhaps outgrown the childish
alteration of gold braid and stars. The
object of war was not peace but pieces and
war must be made subservient to the public
good. Not how we'll did he fight, but for
what did he fight is the proper question.
War is double quick in the march of HUI
mainly. Right and wrong are never absent
from war or peace and deeds of war or peace
must be done according to right. The right
of self preservation is the most complete
apology for war and the time comes when,
in self defense, the highest duty is to smite
the smter. Ii war was ever right, the
irrepresible conflict of '61 was right. The
seceders thought they had to go by peace or
war. In firing on Fort Sumter, they moved
the previous question which cut off all de-
bate. The south had been taught that the
north was cowardly, the southerners were
ignorant of constitutional law and slavery
could not 90 into virgin soil. An anti-slav-
cry sentiment grew inexplicably great in
the North; slavery could not be grated onto
the tree of liberty; God and Satan were at
deaths grip Our government being an
extension of the home had behind it the
hidden strength originating in the interests