The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-02-19
FOUR PATRIOTIC
ORDERS HONOR
TWO PRESIDENTS
HAVE EXCELLENT BANQUET
AND PROGRAM IN MEMORY OF
WASHINGTON AND LINCOLN.

WASHINGTON AND LINCOLN.
About rs of the members of the
four patriotic orders of this city
the G.. A. R., the w. r. c., and the
Sons and Daughters of Veterans, to-
gether with their friends, met at the
G.. A. r. hall and partook of feast
and program which was held in honor
of two Of the nations greatest presi-
dents, George Washington, the Faith
err of our country, and Abraham Lin
coin, the Emancipation, the memory of
the latter still green in the hearts of
many of the old veterans present who
followed the flag through battles of
the Civil war at the call of him who
issued his now famous emancipation
proclamation in order that the integ
rity of the nation might be preserved,
while the great, sterling patriotic
American principles of Washington,
the founder of the greatest nation on
earth, made him too, present in spirit
in the minds of those assembled.
The dinner, which was sumptuous
spread, prepared by some CT the best
artists in the culinary craft was
served at IL bells and neither Wash
ington nor Lincoln saw better appe-
ties displayed at any time in their
lives than were possessed by a ma
jority of the diners who whisked away
the foodstuffs which were brought be-
fore them with amazing rapidity.
The program opened with a song by
Mrs. Luther M. Berry and Clayton
Knapp which was very much apprec-
lated.
The speaker of the day, Rev. FIR.
John A. Klich, pastor of st. Joseph's
Catholic parish Of this city, was then
introduced and gave soul stirring
patriotic address which was based up
on the sterling principles which char
acterized the lives of both of these
great Americans. He also touched
upon the life of Theodore Roosevelt
and his address was a splendid eulcgy
Of these three men. In closing FIR.
Klich referred to the words, "The boys
are coming home and we are glad, I"
which were part Of the song rendered
by Mrs. Berry and Mr.. Knapp. He
told of the heroic work and effort Of
the American mother to make the
world safe for democracy and refer
red TO the clamor Of shouting and re-
icicing at the homecoming Of the boys.
Continuing he said:
But in some homes this rejoicing
ceases and instead there is q subdued
mourning. Many thousands Of mo-
theirs are mourning for the sons that
VIII come home no mere. On the
battlefield, in the trenches, in Che hoE-
pitfalls, on our transports, many q gal-
iant boy had g-zn his life for the
country he loves, and many q mother S
heart is At once sad and pr0sd fcr
the lad that VIII not return. Let us
also honor these mothers. They
have given more than the loud States
men and the clamouring demag0gue.
They have given more even than the
men who have fought Ia the trenches
and the lads who have borne the
brunt of battle.
"We immortalize the rrmes cf
George Washington, the founder OF
American democracy, Abraham Lin
coin the saviour of the American de-
mocracy, Theodore Roosevelt, it's
staunch, fea. less champion. / hope
| the day will come when a sky-scraping
monument will be erected to those
silent mothers who gave their sons
for the cause of this triple crowned
democracy, that government for the
people and Of the people and by the
people may not perish from the
earth"
FIR. Klich's address was one Of the
best which the assembled people had
ever heard and many people have call
ed us up and wished that we might
publish the whole talk, but owing to
lack of space we will be unable to do
so.
The program then continued with
another song by Mrs. Berry and Mr..
Knapp, followed by a reading by Mrs.
Iva hummer, recitation by Miss
Lucy Balloon, a song by Vern Davis,
and a recitation by Miss Bertha Sim
mons. Major Frank r. Chase, one
Of Smyrna's grand old boys, then gave
fine talk, which was as usual pleas
ing to his hearers.
The meeting was held in honor of
both Washington and Lincoln, as is
the usual custom with the four local
patriotic orders, who pick out some
day about one-half way between the
two dates to observe and commemor-
ate the memory of these two great
presidents and it is pleasing to learn
that the recent gathering was one of
the best and largest attended of any
yet held and also that there was a
spirit of genuine good will evident at
the meeting which could do aught but
good.