The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1918-06-14
TO THE "BOYS IN BLUE"

Following is communication re
ceived from Judge William Killefer
member of Brodhead Post G. A. r
of this village anent the alleged lacl
of interest and enthusiasm shown b!
the citizens of Paw Paw for the re
cent Memorial Day exercises.
To the Editor
/ wish to thank the Norther-
ner for calling the attention to
the fact that on Memorial Day,
as the procession was passing,
our citizens did not show a
proper respect for the flag when
they failed to remove their hats
and stand at attention.
In my opinion they also failed
to show proper respect for the
occasion and for the remaining
members of the G. A. r. when
they abserted themselves from
the public exercises of the day.
At the Water Works and also
at the Cemetery, there was less
than one half the number usually
in attendance, and the absence of
our business and professional
men was especially marked.
At the exercises in the Opera
House where a fine program was
rendered, and one of the fir
addresses delivered ever heard in
our village an a similar occasion,
the audience consisted almost en-
tirely of women and children.
/ did not see an editor, a
banker, a lawyer, a physician, or
any other professional man in the
audience, and only three of our
business men manifested their
interest and patriotism by their
attendance. This is in marked
contrast with the interest and
enthusiasm shown by the citi-
zens of our neighboring villages,
notably Decatur, Hartford, Ban
gor etc.
The old soldiers are wondering
What is the matter with Paw
Paw?
VIM. Killefer
1t is true that the attendance a.
the Memorial services in Paw Paw
this year, so far as the men were
was not as large as il
years gone by, and not as large as il
should have been. The True Norther.
ner, so far as the personal allusion is
pleads guilty to the charge
Neither have we any excuses OF
slibis to offer either personally OF
for the other absentees. The small
is to be regretted; but we
are extremely sorry that the Ole
Soldiers attribute the small atten.
lance to any lack of interest OF
patriotism on the part of the bus.
ness and professional men of this
village. The Old Soldiers know, il
hey will but stop and think a minute
hat such charge is unfounded anC
Unjust to the citizens who have
5trewn the pathway of the "Boys in
Blue" with flowers on every occasion
N the years gone by. Never has q
wish or desire been expressed by the
Old Soldiers, but what has received
4 liberal response. There is no di-
rur;tion Of the respect, the admira-
ion, and the deep sense of appre-
nation of the citizens of this com
nunity and the citizens everywhere
'or the scattered remnant of that
Grand Army of the Republic, anC
while there may have been a seeming
ack of interest manifested in the eX-
,rcises Of this year,, the Old Soldiers
Viii have a sacred place reserved foi
hem in the hearts of the citizens OF
4 grateful republic until the end OF
line.
We regret the allusion to "The lack
,f interest and Patriotism" of the
professional and business men of Paw
Paw. We trust that the feeling is
not deep seated in the minds of the
battle Scared heroes. The citizens
mere as elsewhere are patriotic tc
their country's needs in this dark
hour of the Worlds great conflict;
They are back of the boys now in the
trenches with their money, their
sacrifices and their all; They honor
he memory of those who gave their
ives to preserve the union in the
lays of 81 to- 65; and so long as a
single one of those veterans of that
greet war shall live, and from then
until eternity, grateful nation will
pay homage to the memory Of those
who made it possible for the stars
and stripes to float over a free and
lnited country. Future generations
,,;n l,r.I Jo,,,r Tho cfo,.,, 70 tlo;,