Done at the city of Washing-ton, this 10th day of April

A.D. 1862, and of the Inde-pendence of the United States the eighty-sixth. Confederate President Jefferson Davis also issued a proclamation in September and like Lincoln’s, it was for being victorious in battle rather than the blessings we associate with Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving would be-come a national day in 1863.

President Lincoln did not issue a proclamation for Thanksgiving in November 1862 but did issue the one below in Spring of that year. It has pleased Almighty God to vouchsafe signal victories to the

land and naval forces engaged in suppressing an internal re-bellion, and at the same time to avert from our country the dangers of foreign intervention and invasion. It is therefore recommended to the people of the United States that at their next weekly assem-blages in their accustomed plac-es of public worship which shall occur after notice of this procla-mation shall be have been re-ceived they especially

acknowledge and render thanks to our Heavenly Fathers for these inestimable blessings, that they then and there implore spiritual consolation in behalf of all who have been brought into affliction by the casualties and calamities of sedition and civil war, and that they rever-

ently invoke the divine guid-ance for our national counsels, to the end that they may speed-ily result in the restoration of peace, harmony, and unity throughout our borders and hasten the establishment of fraternal relations among all the countries of the earth. In witness whereof I have here-unto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

THANKSGIVING 1862

ANNUAL DUES

The annual membership fee is now due. The rate remains at $25. Please make checks payable to:

Michigan Commandery, MOLLUS

MILITARY ORDER OF THE LOYAL LEGION OF THE UNITED STATES

COMMANDERY OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN

NOVEMBER 2012 VOLUME III, ISSUE 4

THE M ISSIVE

SPECIAL POINTS OF IN-

TEREST:

Perpetuate the memory and

ideals of the 16th President Abraham Lincoln

Officers in the Union Army in the Civil War

Patriotism & the Flag

Americanism & Education

Partnership with the Sons of

Union Veterans of the Civil War

Honor all veterans

Recognize ROTC cadets &

Midshipmen

150th Anniversary of the Civil War

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

INVESTITURE OF

COMPANIONS

2

NOTES FROM MEET-

ING 6.30.2012

3

COMMANDERY

OFFICERS

3

FLAG RAISING AT

G.A.R. BUILDING

3

Blue & Gray Cup 4-15

FUTURE EVENTS &

PROJECTS

16 Please send to:

Bruce Butgereit, II 1948 Wyoming Ave. SW

Wyoming, MI 49519

BLUE & GRAY CUP

Those of you with email have received the information about the Blue and Gray Cup. I’ve included it here again for those who re-ceive a hardcopy of the Missive. Since Davenport University won the first two games of this series, they will be presented the Cup at the game in Grand Rapids, No-vember 29. Photos in a future Missive.

As I’m not sure how many of you know the MOLLUS has a formal statement to be used during the investiture (initiation) of a Companion, I thought I’d share it here. It is a blending of two documents in order to personalize it for the Michigan Commandery. You have been elected a Com-panion in the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, the first and oldest Order of Civil War veterans. Founded on 15 April, 1865, the day our 16th President Abraham Lincoln died, the association believed the following principles imperative – First: A firm belief and trust in Almighty God, extolling Him under whose beneficent guidance of the sovereignty and integrity of the Union have been maintained, the honor of the Flag vindicated, and the blessings of civil liberty secured, established and enlarged. Second: True allegiance to the United States of America, based upon paramount respect for and fidelity to the National Constitu-tion and Laws, manifested by discountenancing whatever may tend to weaken loyalty, incite to insurrection, treason or rebellion, or impair in any manner the efficiency and permanency of our free institutions.

The objects of this Order shall be to cherish the memories and associations of the war waged in defense of the unity and indivisi-bility of the Republic; strengthen the ties of fraternal fellowship and sympathy formed by compan-ionship-in-arms; advance the best interests of the soldiers and sailors of the United States, especially of those associated as Companions of this Order, and extend all possi-ble relief to their widows and children; foster the cultivation of military and naval science; en-force unqualified allegiance to the General Government; protect the rights and liberties of Ameri-can citizenship, and maintain National Honor, Union and Independence. In addition to the principles and objects of the Commandery-in-Chief, the Commandery of the State of Michigan, created 4 February, 1885, includes the following objects – To cherish the honorable ser-vice of our ancestors who served as commissioned officers in the Un-ion Forces during the Civil War, 1861-1865 To commemorate the events of

that momentous conflict--especially as they pertain to Michigan's participation To encourage interest in the history of that period To support the principles of Independence, Union, Loyalty, Patriotism, Military Prepared-ness, National Honor, and the Rights and Liberties of our citi-zenry To foster the pursuit of gene-alogy In becoming a Companion of the Order I ask the following – Do you declare upon your honor that you will maintain the Constitution of the Order, con-form to its Bylaws and rules, and apply your best endeavors to pro-mote its objects and advance its interests as I have just read to you? (Hopefully we hear the response of “Yes.”) Congratulations and welcome to the Commandery of the State of Michigan, Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.

INVESTITURE OF NEW COMPANIONS

GENERAL CADWALADER WAS ELECTED A MEMBER OF MILITARY ORDER OF THE LOYAL LEGION OF THE UNITED STATES AT THE ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING ON APRIL 17, 1865 AND OFFICIALLY BECAME A MEMBER ON MAY 1, 1865. CADWALADER SERVED AS COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF FOR THE REMAINDER OF HIS LIFE AND AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH WAS ALSO COMMANDER OF THE PENNSYLVANIA COMMANDERY. HE DIED IN PHILADELPHIA ON FEBRUARY 3, 1879. GENERAL CADWALADER'S LONG TENURE AS COMMANDER

-IN-CHIEF WAS A MAJOR FACTOR IN SHAPING THE TRADITIONS OF THE MILITARY ORDER OF THE LOYAL LEGION OF THE UNITED STATES AND MANY OF ITS INSTITUTIONS, SUCH AS THE DESIGN OF THE INSIGNIA, ARE ATTRIBUTED TO HIM.

PAGE 2 THE M ISSIVE

The MOLLUS Crest

Maj. General George Cadwalader

Color Guard at inaugural game of the Blue & Gray Cup

We had a nice turnout for our annual business meeting; held at the Portofino Restau-rant in Wyandotte. Our spe-cial guest, bard extraordinaire Mr. Jim Ribby, provided a “you are there” presentation of poetry that had other guests of the restaurant won-dering at times if it was 1862. Companions present in-cluded: Bruce Butgereit II, Bruce B. Butgereit, Colin Butgereit (in that morning on a flight from NY), Michael

Davis, Paul Davis, Charles DuCharme, Adam Gaines (and his father Bill as a guest), Keith Harrison, and W. Fred Roberts. During our lunch, friendly conversation abounded as we discussed personal projects and reacquainted ourselves with each other. The business meeting in-cluded the formal investiture of Companion Paul T. Davis into the Commandery, alt-hough he has been a member

since 2011. Updates on the Civil War Sesquicentennial, the G.A.R. Building in Detroit, and other events were provided.

gereit was master of ceremo-nies. Marcia Butgereit repre-sented both the Woman’s Relief Corps and the DOL-LUS and spoke about patriot-ism and our youth. The But-gereit’s were dressed in peri-od clothing and the G.A.R. uniform of 1900, the date the

building opened.

On Saturday, November 3, Companions Bruce But-gereit, Keith Harrison, Jon Reed, and Don Shaw repre-sented the Commandery in the Detroit Veterans Day parade and at the ceremony to raise the U.S. flag over the G.A.R. Building for the first

time in over 50 years. Companion Harrison com-manded the Color Guard and Firing Unit. Companion But-

NOTES FROM JUNE MEETING - 6.30.2012

RAISING U.S. FLAG OVER THE G.A.R. BUILDING

COMMANDERY OFFICERS FOR 2012-2013

Recorder/Treasurer - Bruce Butgereit, II Registrar - Keith G. Harrison Chancellor - Charles A. DuCharme

Council - Colin B. Butgereit Kim D. Shaw Thomas E. Singelyn

Officers appointed were: Chaplain - Jon Reed ROTC Officer - W. Fred Roberts

Elections were held and the following Companions were elected: Commander - Bruce B. Butgereit Senior Vice-Commander - Paul T. Davis

Junior Vice-Commander - Adam Gaines

PAGE 3 VOLUME III , ISSUE 4

“ . . . IT IS A

MONUMENT

OF PRACTICAL VALUE

TO PRESENT AND

FUTURE

GENERATIONS , AND

WHEN THE LAST

VETERAN OF

THE CIVIL WAR HAS

GONE ,

MAY IT REMAIN A

SHRINE OF

PATRIOTISM

TO THE END OF

TIME . ”

- EDITORIAL

COMMENTS OF

CHARLES K. RADCLIFFE

DETROIT NEWS ,

AUGUST 8, 1929

JrROTC Color Guard from Detroit Cass Technical High School

The Grand Army of the Republic

Memorial Building in Detroit

Bruce B. Butgereit, Commander

1691 Summerfield St. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49508

COMMANDERY OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN

West Michigan in March of 1863. The event includes several speakers, including Richard Norton Smith, historian of the Presidents of the U.S. and a dinner at the Amway Grand, the ground where was heard the first case of that court. Michi-gan’s Fred Priebe will speak as President Abraham Lincoln. Ticket information will be shared in a future newsletter.

Rededication &

Dedication of new

Veterans Memorial,

Byron Township, MI: May 17, 2013: 10 AM Saturday The Commandery, the General

Meetings in 2013 - Saturday, February 16 Historic Fort Wayne Saturday, June 1 Portofino’s in Wyandotte Saturday, October 12 Historic Fort Wayne Events -

150th Anniversary

U.S. District Court

in West Michigan: March 12, 2013 Tuesday The Historical Society of the U.S. District Court of Western Michigan will be commemorat-ing the 150th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln creating the District Court in

John A. Logan Camp No. 1, SUVCW and the Champlin Corps No. 41, Woman’s Relief Corps have partnered to restore a bronze tablet from 1929 and to create a new memorial to veterans of all wars. Other events include - Memorial Day events in Grand Rapids, Lansing, Saginaw, and Flint the week of May 25-May 30. Rededication of a 1927 bronze tablet commemorating Memori-al Day at American Legion Northeastern Post No. 459. The project was sponsored by the Commandery and the Logan Camp No. 1.

FUTURE MEETINGS & EVENTS Possible events -

Dedication of a new bronze Civil War me-morial boulder and bronze tablet commem-orating those from Gaines Township, MI who served in the Civil War. Fund raising ef-forts are underway. Rededication of a re-stored G.A.R. Memorial cannon in Lowell, MI.