The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1918-05-24
MEMORIAL DAY PROCLAMATION
By the Governor.

BY the Governor.
The observance of Memorial Day, a
day dear to the heart of the patriot
the day of all days which most
abounds in hallowed memories and as
sociations, is distinctively an Ameri-
can custom, and one that beautifully
reflects the spirit of democracy. 1t
is day which brings to the surface
the kindlier, nobler impulses of the
human heart, and bids us pause, even
in times of war, to honor the memory
of those who offered up their lives ON
freedoms altar. 1t is the lay that
commentaries the great deeds and
heroic sacrifices of the brave men who,
more than half a century ago, sus-
tained the cause of the Union. These
men deserve well of ourselves and all
future generations of Americans.
They saved the nation from disdup-
ton. They redeemed labor from slav-
cry. They converted into a concrete,
living fact what before had been held
as an abstract principle, namely, that
all men are created free and equal, not
in power and endowment, but equal in
their right to life, liberty and the pur-
suit of happiness. The men who ac-
complished these stupendous labors
were true patriots; and it is ours to
honor the memory of the departed and
pay homage to those who still live.
Again, today, the life of the Repub-
lie is threatened, this time from with
out. We have been forced into war.
We face the peril which menaces all
the free nations Of the earth, and we
have made common cause with them.
Together we are fighting to keep the
world from being throttled by a ruth
less autocratic power. The fate of
democracy hangs in the balance. The
freedom of the world is at stake; and,
as our fathers went out in sixty-one
to do battle for a righteous cause, so
our sons are going out today to do
battle fir cause that is no whit less
righteous. They are fighting to up
hold the rights of humanity. They are
fighting to save civilization from de-
struction. Their valor and their pat
riotism need no eulogy. They are
worthy sons of worthy sires.
One young soldier writes to his
mother, 81 am going to fight this war
as a man, and I'll never come back
with stain on the name / love. If
/ am called upon to make the supreme
sacrifice, I'm going with my boots on
and smile on my lips. When 1 am
across, don't worry, little mother, be-
cause, want you to be proud to call
me My son." That spirit will win.
1t cannot fail to win, although the
hour of victory may be delayed by the
magnitude of the task which confronts
our gallant soldier and sailor lads. God
bless them, and keep them true and
steadfast! God help us at home to
realize our responsibility, and, with
wholehearted devotion, to do our part.
Therefore, that we may pay tri-
butte of affection and esteem to the
surviving veterans of the Civil War
and of the Spanish-American War, and
do honor to the memory not only of
the men who gave up their lives in
these wars of the past, but of the
brave boys also who have fallen in
the present conflict, I, Albert E.
Sleeper, Governor of the State of
Michigan, do hereby issue this, my
Proclamation, and sincerely urge the
observance of Thursday, May thir-
tieth, nineteen hundred and eighteen,
as Memorial Day.
venture to express the hope that
the day will be kept in manner con-
sistent with the spirit of the occasion.
1t Should be a day for the re-dedica-
ton of our strength and service, the
renewed conservation of our every
effort and resource, to the support of
our fighting forces.
And, pursuant to President Will
sons proclamation, / earnestly re-
quest the people of Michigan to OBJ
serve this day as a solemn festival,
and to gather in their accustomed
places of worship and there to offer
prayers for the victory of the Ameri-
can armies, that a just and lasting
peace may be established throughout
the world.
On that day flags should be dis
played at half-staff until noon, and
then hoisted to the top of the staff.
Given under my hand and the Great
Seal Of the State, this seventeenth
day of May, in the year of our Lord
one thousand nine hundred and eight
teen, and of the Commonwealth the
eighty second.
ALBERT Z. SLEEPER,
Governor.