Reps. Sak, Kooiman, Voorhees, Dennis, Plakas, Accavitti, Adamini, Anderson, Bieda, Brown, Byrum, Caswell, Condino, Ehardt, Garfield, Gieleghem, Gillard, Gleason, Jamnick, Lipsey, Minore, O'Neil, Pappageorge, Phillips, Rivet, Rocca, Sheltrown, Spade, Stallworth, Tobocman, Vagnozzi, Woronchak, DeRossett, Milosch, Murphy and Waters offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 227.

A resolution commemorating Andersonville National Historic Site’s 100th Anniversary and the rededication of the Michigan Monument on May 30, 2004.

Whereas, Andersonville, or Camp Sumter as it was officially known, was one of the largest of many Confederate military prisons established during the Civil War.  It was built in 1864 and during the 14 months the prison existed, more than 45,000 Union soldiers were confined there.  Almost 13,000 of these soldiers died from disease, poor sanitation, malnutrition, overcrowding, and exposure to the elements; and

            Whereas, There are over 640 Michigan soldiers buried at Andersonville.  In 1902, Dr. J.A. Griffen, a member of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) and former prisoner at Andersonville, passionately led an undertaking to honor the Michigan dead with a monument.  The Michigan Legislature appropriated $6,000 for the creation of the monument and Governor Bliss signed the bill, approving the project; and

Whereas, The Michigan Monument, made of Vermont granite, is inscribed with the words “In Memoriam” and “Erected by the State of Michigan to her soldiers and sailors who were imprisoned on these grounds”; and 

            Whereas, On May 28, 1904, a special train left Detroit for Georgia to share in ceremonies for the original dedication for the Michigan Monument at the Andersonville National Historic Site in Andersonville, Georgia.  Included in the contingent of prominent Michiganders were Governor Bliss and his military staff, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, a committee of three from the Senate and six from the House, as well as numerous family members and several veterans from the Civil War; and           

            Whereas, Currently, 100th anniversary plans are now being made to rededicate the Michigan Monument on Sunday, May 30, 2004, with a GAR ceremony honoring Michigan’ s prisoners of war; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body proudly join in commemorating all the Michigan soldiers who were prisoners of war, especially those for whom Andersonville became their final resting place, and pay tribute to them for their bravery and dedication to liberty for all; and be it further

            Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Michigan Department Commander of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War as evidence of our highest esteem and heartfelt gratitude.