Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1917-05-24
MEMORIAL DAY
Governor Sleeper Has Issued ANNUAL
Proclamation

Proclamation.
Wcll-nigh three score years have
passed since our father, took up arms
ion III, cause of the union. That was
= righteous war. a holy war. II was
waped for unity and liberty and hui
man happiness -Four years the con
aict ragged. Then came the end, ana .
the union was saved and the slaves .
were set free. Some of those who
fought IN that war are with Us yet.
though "a fast diminishing company
Year by year their ranks grow thin
ner. one ny ONE their comradcs leave
Them
For many years our people have
none forth ON Memorial Day to place
flowers on the graves OF those Ncte-
rams OF the great Civil Wan who have
ponc beyond. and 20 pay tribute To
resnect 10 those who still remain.
il IS beautiful custom. May the
time never. come when il shall die out.
MAY this generation, and the genera
toa- yet To come, never forget what
They owe 10 the brave men who tough;
their battle. for them.
This year Memorial Day has am es-
pccial significance With most Of Us,
1n to this time, the observance OF the
aav has been more or less perfuncto-
ry We have scarccly realized It's
meaning. Today that meaning Is
brought. home to us through the grim
reality IF wa The world at war.
Three wears ago we scoffed at the sug-
ctstion II could not be- The thing
was unthnkablc; but the impossible
happened The great powers across
tho sea came to death-grlps. Men 3
hearts melted within them. In hu-
rope dreu-seated earthquake seem
Iii to heavc up the basis of civil life
and the tribunals Of men. and the
thrones of monarchs. and the temples
of God were shaken 10 the lowest
atom of their structure. Still we hop
cd that our own land would fare free
Neutral we would remain, and 20
calmly about our peaceful pursuits
/, was not TO be- The menace to hu-
man freedom became too fnghttul
and today we are at war Our sons
are being drafted. Our daughters are
crlisting under the Red Gross ban
per From ocean TO ocean the ma
ton i, girdng up its loins for the
fray.
This too is righteous war. W.
did not want war We did our bes
10 keep out OF war; but there was NJ
escape from the situation. The right
of all neutrals were being contemptu
ously disregarded The freedom o
the seas was being denied us. Amer
ican citizens Were being islaughtere
~, defiance Of international law an
all the rules Of civilized warfare. De
mocracy was being slowly throttlec
and our existence as free natio
was being threatened This ruthleS
var rang out a stridcnt challenge t
our manhood. Our cause then rs
last cause. It is the cause of huma
freedom. We stand up for the right
OF humanity and fling out banne
10 the nations God grant that OF
q this universal conflict, out of tn
sacrifice OF blood and tears and treas
are. the world may come forth with
cleaner. purer soul
Therefore, that we may pay trll
rtc OF affection and esteem to Il
surviving veterans of the Civil W;
md of the Spanish-American Wa
nd honor the memory Of those WI
gave up their lives in our cause, A
bert f.. Sleeper governor Of the sta
. Michigan. do hereby issue this, n
reclamation. and sincerely urge Il
observance of Wednesday, May thi
seth. nineteen hundred and scventco
as Memorial Day
And | earnestly request the pc
pic of our state 10 assemble thei
selves together in their various col
munities. and, by appropriate pub
exercises and in other fitting wa.
10 observe this day as a solemn Me-
orial festival | suggest, as one mea
OF observing the day, that bells
tolled from 1900 O'Clock noon un
1905 D. M, and that all citizens sta
with uncovered heads during this !
riod. Flags should be displayed
hsslf-staff until noon and then hoist
to the top of the staff
| further suggest that this day
set apart as day in which. so far
possible, the ordinary courses of b
mess shall be suspended and in VIII
W, shall give ourselves to mediat
and prayer, imploring the God OF
fathers TO inspire us with steadf
faith and watchful courage. and
TO guide us, by His own wise Pre-
e,cnce. that we may be- able TO IL
lm righteousness and freedom
tr,A ,.hieh u,as dedicated 70 rich