Michiganians
at Home
Michiganians
knitted items for the American Red Cross to give to soldiers "over
there." Sentiment was high, but coal supplies were low, as "Keep
the Home Fires Burning" became a popular song. Some food items,
including sugar and flour, were rationed.
Good-by
to Hamburger, Frankfurters and Berlin, Michigan
Once
the United States entered the war in 1917, most Michiganians supported
the war effort. Some voiced anti-German attitudes.
To
avoid words of German origin, people called hamburger salisbury steak
and frankfurters hot dogs. The village of Berlin (near Grand
Rapids) changed its name to Marne. (Marne still has the Berlin
Fairgrounds, Berlin Raceway and Berlin Cemetery.)
Immigrants
who encountered suspicions about their loyalty to the United States
strongly affirmed their new allegiance to America. For example, Polish
citizens of Bay City signed a loyalty oath addressed to Michigan
governor Albert E. Sleeper.
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