The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1916-06-02
DECORATION DAY
F|TTINGLY OBSERVED
DAY WASPERFECTA AND EXERCISES
VERY PLEASING.
Veterans Conducted Ceremonies Over
Grave of Their Late Comrade,
VIM. II. Sargent.

they beheld the sun SHINING clear ana
beautiful, succeeding the rainy and dis
NAL weather of the preceding day and
night. 1t would indeed be hard to i'm
agine more perfect day than that pro-
vided for the observation of the ma
tion's annual tribute to its heroic dead,
and the fact that its observation in Clio
commanded very large attendance is
certainly complimentary to our citizen
ship. In many places Decoration Day
has come to be made an occasion for an
exhibition of sports and games rather
than for an expression Of appreciation
to those who gave and offered their
lives that the splendid heritage of our
Revolutionary fathers might be trans
mitted to succeeding generations with
out impairment. But we are glad to
note that no such celebration took place
in Clio and that nothing serving to de-
tract from proper observance of the
day took place.
The Richfeld Cornet Band made it's
appearance soon after dinner and gave
the people some splendid music. The
improvement made by the band in the
last year is quite remarkable and was
the subject of much favorable comment.
on the part of our citizens.
A selection by the band opened the
program in the Auditorium and was
followed by an eloquent and appropriate
invocation by Rev. c. w. Greene.
Next came song by the High School
Glee Club, under the direction of Miss
Leota Uptegraff, instructor in music in
the Clio schools. The selection was
patriotic medley and was given in su-
perb style, the audience testifying it's
approval by prolonged applause. Miss
Uptegraff has done splendid work in
our schools during the present school
year, and during that time the boys
and girls, through their various class
and chorus organizations, have added
very greatly to the pleasure of many
public occasions and have reflected
credit upon themselves and upon their
instructor.
Rev. E. c. C. Benson, who delivered
the grafton, spoke with deep feeling of
the services rendered their country by
the boys of 81 to '65, and said their
country was doing them but simple JUS
tice in its established custom of plac-
ing flowers upon the graves of those
who had heard the final reveille. Not
only did he tell of the services rendered
our country by it's defenders during the
dark days of civil strife, but also gave
advice to the citizens of today regard
ing the safeguarding of the principles
of self government which the patriot
ism of our soldiers preserved to US. He
said the surest means and the most i'm
portant features of preparedness must
rest upon reciprocal good feeling among
all classes of our citizenship; that the
worker must be made to feel that he is
a participant in the prosperity of his
country, as well as the capitalist. if we
are to have that national spirit which
is the surest defense of any country in
war as well as its greatest source of
prosperity in times of peace. The rev.
erend gentleman was accorded close at
tention during his speech and at its
close was warmly epplauded.
One of the most charming numbers
on the program was gun and broom
drill by company of little lads aid
lassies of the second, third and fourth
grades of the Clio schools, who wore
charming. patriotic costumes. Those
composing the company were Jessie
Mccormick, Thelma McKillop, Thelma
Carter, Flossie Haven, Helen Main,
Florence Wilson, Bernice Palmer, Flor
ence Miller, Dorothy Haven, Marguer-
ite Kane, Doris Butler, Hilton Lacure.
Frank Haven, Verling Jenkins, Charlie
Gere, Lloyd McComb, Willie Huff, Ken
meth Haven, Melvin Brewer, Lestir
Miner, Nolan Conlee. Master Willie
Huff was the captain and gave his or
ders with the most competent and mill
tary air. his company performing their
rather complicated drill without sim
gle error. Master Kenneth Haven was
the smallest of the squad and the per-
feet way in which he handled his CUR
and took part in the marching was
charming and very amusing. The
Misses Flora Haven and Rose Smith
trained the little boys and girls for theiI
difficult act, for which they are entitled
to both praise and thanks.
A selection by the band and one BY
the High School Glee Club concluded
the program in the Auditorium, follow
ing which the band headed procession
to the cemetery where Commands