The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-06-25
PICNICKED AT THE PARK!
Shiawassee Battalions Pleasant Reunion
Yesterday.

day.
The day was all that could be desired,
warm and bright, but with a brisk breeze
that kept the participants cool and comfort
able and made listening to the speeches of
comrades an even greater pleasure than
usual.
The comrades assembled during the FORE
noon at Caledonia Park, bringing wives and
children; and, it is needless to add. generous
lunch baskets with them. Visiting and
greeting old friends made the time pass
quickly until the dinner hour came. while
visiting and story telling made the after
dinner hour pass quickly until at about two
o'clock the people took seats in the casino
to listen to the speakers who had been Sc
cured to address them.
After calling the assembly to order, II. ii.
Pulver, OF Laingsburg, introduced their
chaplain, Rev. Henry King, who offered
fervent and eloquent prayer.
Duff's quartette, the Messrs. G. G. Duff,
FL. A. Wickham, w. A. Sparkling and Bert
l. Winslow, then sang song, Comrades
|
eeived as their songs always are.
Col. Pulver in very complimentary
speech introduced Col. A. T. Bliss, of
Saginaw, Department Commander Michi-
gan G. A. r., as man who had always
both In Office and out-been friend to the
soldier.
Col. Bliss thanked the people for their
cordial and complimentary reception. He
did take pride, he said, in the work he did
for the soldiers. Never had one written to
him without receiving prompt acknowl-
edgement of his letter and he had personally
helped secure over 1900 pensions. He thank
ed the people of Shiawassee especially for
their support in electing him department
commander. Speaking of the wartime he
said the women who remained at home suf-
fered more then than the men at the front.
But the women were just as loyal now and
the Woman's Relief Corps are now doing
noble work to uphold and assist the veterans
in their organization. The colonel is a
great believer in the benefits of organiza-
tion and traces much of the increase in the
general observance of memorial day, which
he believes is taking place, to the efforts of
their organization. Their work is largely
the cause of the teaching Of patriotism in
the schools and of the laws requiring the
display of United States flags over the school
houses of the land, influences which would
tend to unite the psople If any danger should
threaten the country. Old Glory, he said,
hal been carried through seventeen years of
successful war and had been carried con-
stantly higher and higher until now 1t was
at the highest notch. The colonel like other
really brave men Is not ashamed to say, 81
never went into battle In my life but what
was afraid" He paid another compliment
= to the ladies here saying 1t was the thought
of the women at home which made many a
man brave in time of battle.
Before introducing the next speaker Mr..
Pulver remarked of the change time had
wrought and said the flag was indeed at the
top notch and so high up that it could be
seen by men two thousand miles from the
Pacific coast, at Hawaii. He then into
duced Col. G. V. r. Pond, of Lansing, as
sistant adjutant general of the srate G. A. r.
Col. Pond said that he was born in New
York but that Connecticut accepted him al
the beginning of the war and Michigan had
adopted him since. He assured his hearers
that he did not feel 'away from home'
when in Michigan, though when he heard
some of the Michigan boys talk of how they
put down the rebellion, he occasionally
wondered where he was during that period
and what the Connecticut troops drew ra-
tions for. Like the rest, he said he was
growing younger every day and soon hoped
to reach his second childhood, in which case
he promised in advance to "be good boy.'
He said that any one could see by looking
into the faces of those in front of him that
the spirit was still there which would form
an army, in case Of necessity, superior to
any standing. .army of Europe. Col. Pond
kept the audience in high spirits by his
jokes and witty sallies and will receive a
warm welcome from any Shawassee audi
ence he may chance to meet in the future.
After another song by Duffs quartet, j..
w. Turner was introduced. He reminded
them of the days when Capt Quackenbush
led out the first company from Owosso in '61,
1--WE were boys then; now they call us
grandpa" Mr.. Turner spoke in his usual
entertaining way but did not speak long,
not wishing to keep the people.
The fife and drum corps made up of the
following 'boys" was then called to the
stage and made the grove ring with war
time music: l.. g. Cheney, l.. p. Roberts,
T. p. Mitchell, Chas. Collamer, A. j. Ham,
mond, A. G. Cowles and Harrison Jobes.
Capt. Duff was presented to the audience
in the guise of a poet. He read poem
written by him in memory of similar
meeting toithis one some years ago.
Comrade Willoughby was then called for
and requested to sing one of his old time
favorites, "The Liberty Bird" which he did
| IN the pleasure of ALL