Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-05-31
DECORATION DAY
AND ME MORTAL
! SERVICES HELD
GOOD ATTENDANCE BOTH DAYS.
BAND ASSISTED IN MAX
ING DAY SUCCESS

Members of the G. A. r. the w. r.
c., the Sons of Veterans and the
Daughters of Veterans assembled at
their hall on Broas street last Sunday
morning and formed line of march
to the Church of Christ, where they
attended the annual memorial SER
vices. The church was tastefully
decorated with flags and bunting in
terspersed with flowers. Just back
of the choir large white monument
had been prepared, white cloth being
used On the vertex rested a beauti-
full picture of Lincoln, and around the
picture frame was twined the national
colors.
A well-balanced choir under the
leadership of Norman Johnson led in
the singing of several national hymns,
and also gave special number. Rev.
Pease gave the comrades an excel
lent talk, commended them for their
valor, and extending them the honor
due them from all American citizens.
He urged that they show an interest
in the cause of Christ and enlist as
soldiers for his work.
The patriotic orders were extend
ed cordial welcome from the people
+. of the church and made to feel that
Rev. Pease extended the members of
the different orders cordial invita-
tion to attend memorial services
there each year and also TO attend
any other services of the church.
After the services the orders
marched out and disbanded on the
walk.
Freshened by the heavy rain of the
day and night before Decoration
Day, Tuesday, broke fair and bright.
The patriotic spirit of our citizens
manifested itself early in the day
by their placing flags and bunting
in front Of their homes.
At nine O'Clock the members of the
four patriotic orders met at the G..
A. r. hall to prepare for the SER
vices of the day. The school chill
dren assembled, under the leadership
of their teachers, TO assist in giving
honor to the nations heroes, and
coupled with all these the band boys
turned out to give their services.
The line of march, over two blocks
long, was from the hall down Broas
street to Main, thence east to Bridge
street, thence north to the river
bridge. There the ladies and chill
dren threw flowers on the water in
honor of the marines, and also held
a short program.
Returning after the water service,
the line of march was to the Con-
gregational church, where the ever
cises of the day were held. The
program was at all times interesting
and consisted of readings, recita-
tions and songs. Some of the num-
bers were highly complimented.
At the conclusion Of the church
services the members of the four
orders were taken in automobiles to
Otisco cemetery, where short SER
vices, appropriate to the day, were
held, Thdy next went to Smyrna
for dinner in the Maccabee hall. Af-
ter dinner a short program was Civ
en- in the cemtery. Following the
decoration at Smyrna, return was
made to Belding and services were
held in River Ridge and also at the
Belding cemetery.
Members of the patriotic orders
feel very thankful for the aid of the
various people and bodies who as
sisted in making the exercises of the
day a success. They are particular
ly grateful TO the band for its good
work and the kindly manner in which
the service was given. They also ap-
preciate the efforts of the teachers
and school children for their kind as
sistance. The work of preparing the
program was hard because of the
measles epidem;c. which has been
sweeping the schools. The dinner al
Smyrna also deserves mention, Not
one person left the tables, but ex.
pressed complete satisfaction of the
generous way the people of Smyrna
have of providing the necessities OF
life to a hungry crowd.
Late in the afternoon the services
of the day were brought to a fitting
close, and every one who assisted in
making the day a success felt that he
or she had performed most worthy
service, and yet one that is due oul
soldier boys once a year. The big
sorrow Of the day was in the fact that
more people did not assist in the OBJ
servance by being present.
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