The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-04-30
MEMORIAL DAY.
Department Commander Bliss, of the Mich
igan G. A. r., Issues an Order Re-
garding Its Observance.
HELEN l.. MANNING.

| SdtullR us SDoStVdiSC'
The following order regarding the ob.
servance of Memorial Day has been issued
from Michigan department headquarters of
the G. A. Il. They need no further ex-
PLANTATION and will be- perused with interest
by all citizens, and especially the living he
roes of that memorable struggle from '61 to
'65, who will this year, as in former years.
strew flowers on the graves and do honor to
their departed comrades:
HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTM'T OF MICH. J
Grand Army of the Republic,
Lansing, Mich, April 81, 1897. }
GENERAL ORDERS NO. 8.
Again the living approach the day most
sacred to the Union army veteran. Let it
be the purpose of each survivor of that
army to make Memorial Day of 1897, in its
observance, most impressive.
Call to your active cooperation on the oc-
casion, that noble, self-sacrifcing body of
women, the Woman's Relief Corps. They
are our right arm, and they always respond
to our can. The Sons of Veterans, too, our
own flesh and blood, will be found ready to
join in the duties of the day.
To all citizens give most sincerely cordial
invitation to participate In the memorial eX-
ercises, and TO observe the day by laying
aside all business cares.
Especially invite the school children to be
with you, that the lessons of the hour may
impress their young hearts with the sacred
ness of the objects that call for the Observ-
ance of the day. They are i'm the near flu.
ture, perhaps, to be the ones who shall scat
ter sweet blossoms of springtime over our
resting spots,
Comrades, let us we'll keep in mind the
sacred nature OF Memorial Day, and use all
proper measures to prevent its being made a
season for gaiety and sports.
Let no spot where rests the remains of
one of our nations heroes, our soldier dead,
be forgotten on this day, If within your pow
er to prevent.
The SOth day of May, 1897. falling on
Sunday, it is provided by statute law of our
state that the following Monday be observed
in business matters as legal holiday. In
view of this fact Monday, May 31st, 1897,
has been named as Memorial Day in this
department., and 1t is hoped that the OBJ
servance of that day may occur in all locali-
ties where previously made arrangements
do not prevent.
A beautiful custom of our order Is the at
tending of divine services at some church
by posts in a body on the Sunday preceding
Memorial Day. This year such service
would come upon Sunday, May 30th. Let
this custom be generally observed. Where
no post is established see that the clergy are
specially invited TO hold memorial exercises
either in union or separate service.
The reading of Lincoln's Gettysburg ad-
dress on Memorial Day as a part of Memo
rial Day exercises was recommended by the
Both national encampment. The posts of
this department will see that this recon-
mendation is observed. The address will be
found on third page of General Orders No.
8, national headquarters, which Is sent out
with these orders to each post. By COM
mand of AARON Il. BLISS,
Official: Department Commander.
q. V. X. POND.
Assistant Adjutant General.