Political Quotes

“I rise today to congratulate Westview Orchards of Romeo, MI on its 200th anniversary. Since its founding in 1813, the orchard has been a part of Michigan's way of life. It is where families go to pick their own peaches and strawberries in the summer, and where they go to pick apples, take wagon rides and enjoy the cider mill in the fall. It has been a source of fresh food since the War of 1812 was being waged from Michigan to New England to New Orleans. Michigan was a prime battleground during the War of 1812, and the British were winning every major engagement. The Union Jack flew over settlements in Michigan from Mackinac Island to Detroit. By the summer of 1813, it seemed likely that when the war ended, the Michigan Territory would belong to the British Empire. That all changed with the Battle of Lake Erie, when American forces defeated the British Navy and changed the tide of the war. One of the heroes of the battle was Michael Bowerman, who had come from New York to fight for his country. In gratitude for his service, the United States offered him a plot of land in Michigan. And so it was that Michael Bowerman packed up his belongings and set out to start a new life for himself and an enduring legacy for his family. In his pockets, he carried a few peach pits from his father's farm in New York. He found his homestead in present-day Romeo, built a cabin and founded the farm that is today known as Westview Orchards.…”