The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-06-04
DECORATION PROGRAM
WAS SPLENDID
WEATHER FAULTLESS AND LARGE
NUMBER IN ATTENDANCE
DR.. A. B. Leonard Gave Sympathetic Ad-
dress and Made Strong Plea for
Good Citizenship

Nature herself seemed to smile be-
nignantly upon Memorial Day this
year, the air was warm and balmy, the
sun shone with mellow radiance, flow
ers were blooming. and the trees and
earth were beautiful in the vesture
of springtime, the whole combin-
ing to lend solemn splendor to the
efforts put forth by the veterans and
their friends in honoring the memory
of those who offered life itself in the
service of their country and who have
spread their silent tents on fame's eter-
nal camping ground The whole pro-
gram was unmarried by any disappoint-
ing feature, and the growing popular
ity, perhaps we should say the grow
ing sense of obligation, which SUR
rounds this sacred and patriotic occa-
sion was strikingly attested in a con-
course which filled the spacious audi
torium to overfowing
The Richfeld Cornet Band, which
was engaged for the day, put in an
early appearance, and added not a little
to the pleasure of the occasion, their
part in the indoor program consisting
of sacred medley, which was much
appreciated. They also gave the ever
popular military air, Marching
Through Georgia" which set the "old
boys" eyes flashing and made the
blood course little faster in the veins
of all who could comprehend the char
acter of the struggle through which
they passed in the long ago.
A very eloquent and understanding
invocation was made by Rev. c. w.
Greene, who, in the unavoidable alb
sense of Rev. +. c. c. Benson, also
pronounced the benediction at the con-
clusion of the exercises.
A ladies' quartette consisting of
the Misses Eva Smith, Anna Ulrey,
Verna Lembach and Rose Smith gave
beautiful vocal selection, which was
followed by reading. appropriate to
the occasion, given in her usual effec-
tive manner by Miss Gladys Wright.
Then followed very unique and
pleasing event; drill by the boys of
the grades of the public schools, cap
tanned by Master Gordon Goodfellow,
who gave fine military drill ending in
sham battle The little fellows were
all dressed in kahki uniforms, were
equipped with air guns, and made
very pleasing and creditable appear
ance indeed. They were drilled under
the supervision OF Misses Haven and
Smith, teachers in our schools, who
are certainly entitled to very much
credit for their enterprising and patient
work If possible this little organiza-
ton of boys should be kept together,
as it could add not little to the
pleasure of many future occasions. The
boys constituting the drill squad were
as follows: Leo Cummings, Laverne
Miller, Vnton Main, Murray Gillett,
Walter Williams, Russell Miller, Harry
Palmer, Cecil Lowell, Clifton Powers,
Wyman Powers, Howard Jones, Don
aid Gage, Thomas Reed, Willie Huff,
Lloyd McComb, Milton Doyle, Lloyd
Nc cCormick, Wallie Teachout, Howard
Covert, Clinton Hill, Roy Maltby,
Frank Haven Eben Reed.
A gentlemen's quartette consisting of
Messrs. Wilson, Goodrich, McCrady,
and Wirth, rendered a selection in a
very pleasing manner, which was fol-
lowed by the introduction of the speak
er Of the day, Rev. DR.. A. B. Leonard,
of Flint.
1t is impossible within the limits of
this article to give a comprehensive
resume of DR.. Leonard's mastery and
sympathetic address. He said enough
to let his audience know that his per-
sonal recollections went back to the
dark days of the Civil War, and the
tribute he paid to the boys who gave
UP so much that the sacred institutions
of their country might be preserved,
came from the heart. He paid tri-
butte especially to the boys, because he
said, boys fought the battles of the
Civil War and quoted statistics show
ing that the average age of the millions
who went into that great struggle was
below twenty years. He paid eloquent
tribute to the sterling manhood of both
the blue and the gray, likewise to the
noble wives and mothers who endured
the suspense and privation incident to
the great struggle and preserved the
nations hearthstones while their loved
ones were fighting to preserve its very
being. DR.. Leonard said that in the
providence of God some great charac-
ter like Washington or Lincoln had al
ways been raised up to guide this
nation through its times of stress and
peril, and he paid a compliment to