The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-01-31
Enthusiastic G. A. R. Meeting

iho coHiaucS vi QuucktnDuSn IOSt, q.
A. r., No. 2o5, held very enthusiastic
open meeting in their hall Wednesday even.
ing. The hall was filed to its utmost ga.
pacity with the war-scarred and time. worn
veterans of the civil war, their wives and
daughters and visiting comrades from DIFF.
ferent parts of the county.
Commander Frieseke announced the mr.
pose of the meeting to be that of discussing
the proposed monument or other memorial
to be erected by the people of Shiawassee
county.
Ii. FL. Pulver, of Laingsburg. chairman
of the committee appointed by the Shiawas.
see county battalion, said that Owosso is the
place for the monument If the conditions of
site and funds are right. Those living out
side of Owosso were proud of her. local
committee should canvass the city in time to
report to the battalion in June. AS time
passed on pOsterity,. gazing at the instruc-
| tive memorial which should be raised, wound
appreciate more and more the services of the
Old soldier. In closing he paid an eloquent
tribute to the G. A. r. saying that il 1t had
not been tor the G. A. r. the condition of
the veterans would be far worse than II now
is and that the time had come when pen
sion ought to be asked for every veteran.
He was loudly applauded.
4. l.. Brewer was proud of the compli-
ments paid to Owosso. He believed that
the money could be raised, that every SOL
dier, soldiers wife, every daughter, every
son OF veteran and every other citizen who
had any appreciation of the veterans sacri-
fees would give dollar. He did not have
any particular site in mind but had, at a
! suggestion of this wife, thought building
with a monument at the base would be
good thing. The building might possibly
be used by the Y. M. q. A., the Ladies' Lii
brary and the G. A. r. Anyhow a hall
should be built where the old soldiers could
meet free of expenses and the hall could
finally become a war museum
A. j. Patterson made, perhaps, the most
interesting though briefest speech of the
evening. He had read about Armenian.
Venezuelan and South African troubles but
the thing he was really interested in was
this monument. 'I'm interested in it five
dollars" he said and handed over bill for
that amount. he was heartily cheered for
his interest and generosity.
K. A. Steadman believed In a building
whose whole front should be memorial,
and that it would be better than the COM
mon run of monuments.
Julius Frieseke thought he could assure
Comrade Pulver that Owosso would do her
duty.
Supervisor A. B. Crane, Col. of the bat.
talon organization, said that in nearly all
of the six hundred or more engagements of
the late war Michigan had been represented
by troops than whom no states soldiers were
better, Drawer or more possessed of the right
esprit dc corps. Shawassee county had
soldiers in a majority of the engagements
participated in by Michigan troops. The
county at large thought Owosso the place
for the monument. The means should be
gotten first and the memorial decided upon
later. Probably memorial hall would be
the best thing as before great while there
would only be one G. A. X. post and that
would be in Owosso.
S. j. Rouse said there was only one way
to get the monument and that is to get it.
The kind and location of the memorial
ought to be decided upon and then all would
do something.
Chaplain King said that long speeches
wouldn't build the memorial. What is
needed is more speeches like that of Com
rade Patterson.
The infantry and cavalry veterans have
been having some friendly tits in regard to
the relative merits of the service rendered
by their respective branches of the service.
The infantry seems to have had the better
OF 1t thus far. Comrade Van Dyne was to
have defended the cavalry at this meeting
but was not present. Comrade Brewer,
however, called down one of the speakers
for praising an. infantry brigade, which
caused good-natured laugh all around.
Comrade Peterson then treated the audi
ence to fine photograph concert of popu-
lar and patriotic music. One of the pieces,
the G.. A. II. Patrol, contained a bugle call
and fife and drum music which brought
back many memories to the old veterans
whose countenances lit up with the smile of
youth. After the singing of America the
audience was dismissed, but many fingered
to talk over ways and means in regard to
the memorial, all feeling confident that
OwossO would have it and would do her
share towards obtaining it.