Library of Congress1916
Ansel A Packard of the Graduating Class U of M Gives the Class Day Oration Prom the Bangor Commercial W Ansel A Packard of Belfast was the class day orator and proved himself worthy of the name He delivered an oration that will be long remembered by those who heard it The oration was well adapted to this era of preparedness and was a call to the students to do their share towards the preservation of this republic Mr Packard Baid in part On the afternoon of Nov 19 1863 a vast vast silent multitude billowed like waves at sea over what had been not long before the battle of Gettys burg True Americans all they had paused in the midst of that terrible strife to do honor to the memory of thoBe who had gone down in the storm On the platform before them towered a loosebung figure six feet four inches tall a man awkward and illdressed in whose haggard face seemed to be the suffering of the sinB of the world Abra ham Lincoln President of the United States out of the depth of his great heart spoke to his people these words which shall endure throughout