The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-06-02
FOR SOLDIERS OF BOTH WARS.
Various Military and Civic Orders United
With Other Citizens Tuesday in Honor
ing the Nations Departed Heroes
Patriotic Address by Rev. c. H. Hanks.

With Other Citizens Tuesday in Honor
ing the Nations Departed Heroes
Patriotic Address by Rev. c. H. Hanks.
Never has Owosso seen more beauti-
full Memorial Day on which to honor
her departed soldier dead and never
have her citizens turned out with more
patriotic or thankful feelings than last
Tuesday when citizens joined with the
ex-soldiers of the sixties and of '9S to
honor the dead heroes of both wars.
The procession was unusually large
and the effect of the uniformed orders
was striking and picturesque as they
marched through the principal streets
toward the cemetery under the leader
ship of Capt. A. j. Van Epps, marshal
of the day.
After the marshal of the day the pro-
cescion was headed by the Uniformed
Rank Knights of Pythias, who were led
by the City Band. The band, as it
always does, did full credit to its past
good record and not only furnished the
finest grade of march music but them
selves preserved first class alignment
and strict military bearing. The
Knights showed that they have not
been careless in drill, at least not
recently, and marched like body of
soldiers, executing the various foot
movements and sword exercises with
precision. their showv white helmets
and gay red tassel plumes making their
part of the procession a handsome
one.
Following the Knights of Pythias
came the Patriarchs Militant, no less
striking in their appearance than the
Knights except that their colors were
more suodued, the bright contrasts of
the white and red replaced here by the
purple feather plumes on the black
chapeaux, though the effect of the gold
lace and brass trimmings was not lack
ing here.
The degree team of the Modern
Woodmen, led by the Junior Band, oc-
cupied the next place in the procession,
and attracted its full share of attention
clad in complete white suits, each man
carrying the AK emblematic of the
order.
The ex-members of Company G, 33d
Mich. Vol. Infy. and the members of
Co. G, Sd Michigan were next in line
and were out in good force, though
their uniforms were of every descrip-
ton from the karki blouses and trousers
to blue trousers with and without leg
gins and blue blouses with their brass
buttons side by side with blue flannel
shirts without any brass buttons, cam.
paign hats and the trim military caps
motley conglomeration so far as
uniformity was concerned. and yet how
eloquently those same service worn
uniforms appealed to the friends and
relatives of their wearers among the
crowds which watched them pass the
parts of the karki suits telling their tale
of Cuban service, the others in perhaps
every case telling either of Cuban ser
vice cut short by sickness or else of an
expressed willingness and an offer of
services on the part of the rest. It was
not a uniformed and equipped company.
but far better than that, it was reunion
of the boys who made Company q
what all Owosso was and still is so
proud of, and it is no wonder that their
appearance excited more enthusiasm
than did that of the gaily and perfectly
uniformed bodies in the line. The
company was commanded by the
officers who shared its Cuban hard.
ships with it, Lieuts. Retain and Case.
Following the soldiers of '9s came the
soldiers of the sixties led by their
marshal band. Quackenbush Post, of
this city being joined by Wallace Post
of Corunna, the latter post returning
the compliment of visit to Cor
unna by Quackenbush Post earlier in
the day. The members of the G. A. r.,
all in their dark blue suits, and still
active and energetic presented another
inspiring spectacle, and one which
Owosso hopes to look upon for many
more Decoration Days. Following the
g. A. r. came the w. r. G. in carriages.
The fire department and carriages con-
tanning the mayor and speakers closed
the parade except for the large num-
ber of private carriages which brought
up the rear. One of the most interest
ing parts of the parade, however, pre-
ceded the last section and spread out
for over block in length. This was
the line of small school children, nearly
all carrying small flags and marching
to the very end of the trip with the
older participants.
Promptly after arrival at the grounds
on the Hill the assembly Was called to
order by the chairman of the day,
Mayor Hume, who called upon Rev. X.
o. Cooper to lead in prayer. The Y.
M. G. A. mems chorus under G. G.. Duff
then sang and the Junior Band played
the Star Spanoled Ranner ofter which