A NOTE to everyone from Gloria Day:

Date: Wed, 6 Sep 2006 18:14:19 +0000

Hello Everyone:

Thank you for filling the courtroom yesterday for the Sentencing. We know Bill expected us to do and say the right things in ending our case - “think deep and speak up”. Once again, all of you were there to keep us focused and strong – which helped us to stand up and speak for Bill. We will never be able to thank each of you in the manner you so deserve. (We also realize many others were there with us even though they were not physically present.)

Our most humble thanks to Walter Brace who for 2 solid years was relentless in leading the family of his dear friend down the path toward justice.

Judge Holowka gave Matthew Soares the maximum sentence allowed under the Michigan Sentencing Guidelines and the Probation Department’s calculations. The Judge was given the range of approximately 3 – 7 years for each felony count, Operating Under the Influence of Liquor Causing Death and Manslaughter.

Judge Holowka sentenced Matthew Soares to 7 years for each felony count, no early release.

Bill was a strong defender of the Constitution of the United States and he was unwavering in his ideals of justice and the rights and responsibility of all to pursue those rights and work for change when injustices were present. In a quote from one of his numerous letters to the editors Bill wrote, “The young people coming up behind us are not as dumb as my generation. I am ashamed of the majority of my generation for being a bunch of followers….. no guts…..afraid to think deeply and speak up…..born in ‘45”.

Bill would be so proud of all of us……………...and so honored. Bill can now rest in peace. From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever.

With our heartfelt sincerity and thanks,

The Family of William Marion Day


Statement at Sentencing by Gloria Day
September 5, 2006

Your Honor,
Who is William Marion Day?

Bill Day was first and foremost a man of his word. Everyone who met or knew Bill will attest to that. He instilled in his family that worth - that one is only as good as his/her word…..therefore your word means everything….. and throughout life you'll often find your word is ALL you've got.

Bill took responsibility as serious as his word - his responsibility as a man, as a U.S. citizen, as a son, husband, father, brother, grandfather, uncle, and friend, businessman, and as a member of various organizations. He expected no less from others, and took action to hold those accountable who would shirk responsibility - including individuals and political, economic, business, and government entities. He stood up for his beliefs, and he constantly and consistently MADE the time to educate himself and understand the political, economical, and social workings and issues and encouraged others to do the same. He was a strong defender of the Constitution of the United States and he was unwavering in his ideals of justice and the rights and responsibility of all to pursue those rights and work for change when injustices were present. In a quote from one of his numerous letters to the editors Bill Day wrote, quote "The young people coming up behind us are not as dumb as my generation. I am ashamed of the majority of my generation for being a bunch of followers…..no guts…..afraid to think deeply and speak up…..born in '45". End quote. He sought no praise, and he took his just punishment.

How ironic it is then that his life - the life of a man who was such a strong defender of justice - would be taken in such an unjust manner?

Bill was a mechanical design engineer for the automotive industry for over 40 years. For the past 27 years he ran his own business, Day Design LLC, with locations in Imlay City, Romeo, and Almont, with as many as 15 designers working for him, and numerous associates that worked with him. He ran his company firm and fair, and through the routine business conflicts and issues, his customers, suppliers, and staff will maintain he was a man of integrity, and respected by all.

Bill's self respect as a man, informed citizen, and businessman easily flowed over into his personal life. With what is said thus far, there is really no need to elaborate on the obvious - that Bill held himself to an even higher level than was necessary in his roles as son, husband, father, brother, grandfather, uncle and friend. Not one of us can say he ever let us down - disagreed with us often, yes ……but he always stood strong as the leader and head of the immediate and extended family. He put his family and friends first in his life - and also held us to the same standard that he held himself - "think deep and speak up".

He shed tears at the births of his children and grandchild, and at the deaths of those he knew and did not know, including those of other freedom fighters including soldiers, policemen, firemen, and the average citizen protecting his own or others. He considered his greatest triumphs to be those he instilled in his children - their strength and resolve to build and retain a high standard of moral character - and specifically to be true to their word - and to take responsibility accordingly. For the nephew who lost his mother when he was 1 year old, Bill treated that nephew as one of his own children. Bill was the only person who did not miss a single high school football game for this nephew - no matter what.

But what is of the utmost importance here today is what was lost and why, on Thursday night, August 19, 2004, at 10:04 pm., and NO ONE HAS LOST MORE THAN BILL DAY. HE LOST HIS LIFE ….HIS FUTURE…..AND EVERYTHING HE LOVED AND STOOD FOR………BILL DAY LOST HIS LIFE BECAUSE OF ANOTHER MAN'S TOTAL DISREGARD OF THE LAW, AND TOTAL DISREGARD THAT HIS OWN ACTIONS COULD CAUSE DEATH OR GREAT HARM TO OTHERS.

Gone is the life of Bill Day. Gone is a leader among friends, a leader in his profession. Gone is the head of the family, the head of the extended family. What will happen to the followers now that their leader has been killed?


A Plea for JUSTICE


The resulting economic, social and emotional state of affairs of our family will have an impact on the sentencing of Mr. Soares and hence contribute to justice for my husband of over 26 years. Therefore, I will speak on some of the matters that I hold so deeply private, although I do so begrudgingly.

In order to be able to convey to you my deepest agony, I will speak in the first person. This is what I believe my husband would say:

That I, William Marion Day, have been ripped from life
A life I loved only second to my country,
Followed by my family, friends, and other peoples,
That I, Bill Day, died needlessly, senselessly, and violently,
That I, Bill Day, WANT JUSTICE FOR MY DEATH
I want justice too so that my children, family, friends and others will recognize justice and know it exists and that it exists not by itself but along with the responsibilities of those of us who willingly and proudly carry its weight.

I want justice too so that my children, family, friends and others will have a renewed faith and trust in the judicial system ……….so that what I've stood for all my life will stand even when I can not……………..and because that justice will stand, some sense of relief will come into the shattered lives of so many of my loved ones…

I want justice for my dear loving mother.

I want justice for my brothers and friends and in particular my friend of over 40 years, Walter Brace. His relentless pursuit of justice is also a sacrifice of time - over 2 years.. A true friend in life………he remains my true friend even in death

Economically, what I worked for the last 40 years will not be retained. There is currently no income, where there use to be two. When she gets back to work, there will be no retirement, where there use to be two. The home we were building on the Lake up north for retirement will be sold - the tradition ends here of several generations of family retiring on the same Lake where the extended family, kids and grandkids grew up spending summers, winter vacations and countless weekends swimming, boating, skiing, fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, ice skating, and at campfires……and at one of those campfires was where I met my wife.

Grief and anger continues to tests the family's very core….and test the strength of extended family and friends. Words and actions of family, friends, acquaintances, strangers, media, legal entities, and so forth have caused constant turmoil since my death. The issues surrounding my death are alive and real and cross numerous paths - political, judicial, social, emotional, financial, etc. My family and friends are impacted constantly and continuously - and this struggle, this turmoil, will remain in their lives for infinity.

The nephew I took under my wing when he was just a baby, grieves inwardly so as not to disturb the others. My son was happy, ambitious, intelligent, and respected. Now I do not recognize my own son - he is such an angry young man…and I wonder if he will ever get past the hate weight he carries. One of my daughters is extremely depressed. She is the "middle child", the black sheep, the one that caused the most disruption……the one people say looks just like her mother…. but she is also the one who thinks and acts most like her father. We were robbed of the opportunity to come full circle…a meeting of minds…therefore she suffers a guilt that fortunately my other children do not know. My other daughter is my oldest child, and not yet over a devastating divorce. She is the mother of my grandson Ethan Von. I was at the hospital when he was born, and my daughter was very brave and very proud…especially proud that I was there, Ethan Von's only grandpa. Von was something I never experienced before…a second chance to be with my daughter again...........and finally my time to have fun and not be the stern disciplinarian.

It is also important to mention my son's terror of entering funeral homes. Billy entered funeral homes for family and personal friends and was embarrassed because he could not control his display of grief. In 2003 (one year before I was killed) Billy's maternal grandfather "Papa" died suddenly. Papa was active, young and healthy, and died one week after Billy graduated from high school. Try as he might, Billy could not bring himself to enter the funeral home to view his PAPA - dead. So I said to my wife, "Give me a reason why Billy should see his Papa that way?" She replied "there is no reason - Billy will see Papa some other time". But when I was killed, Billy entered that funeral home to see me in an open casket.....the right side of my face totally unrecognizable…the right side of my body totally crushed.

My own dad died when he was 82 years old, my mother is now 92 years old and sitting in this courtroom today. My grandparents and their parents lived long healthy lives as well - my point being I had many healthy years yet to live…………………….. I DO NOT WANT TO BE DEAD - who will take care of my family?

Every night, and sometimes even during the day, my wife sees my face, but not the face of the man she loved for over 27 years. She sees vividly the expression on my face in my last 2 seconds of life, when I am face to face with death. I have 1-1/2 seconds to react to an SUV coming at me at 80 mph. Using every ounce of strength I grab hard right for the front brake and slam my right boot with all my might on the rear brake………… I slow my 900 lb. bike carrying my 200 lb. weight, ………………………….I skid straight for 30 feet……………………she sees my face of terror……...frozen………terror………….

I WANT TO LIVE!

Every bone in the right side of my body……. is crushed

My face…….. …….is unrecognizable

My death…………. is so unjust

So at night, she knows what to expect just about 1-1/2 seconds before sleep finally arrives, no matter what she tries, it comes every night, my face of terror. And now there are 9 pillows on my side of the bed, where there use to be only one.

Last but not least, I want justice for myself
So that someday…..soon, I can rest in peace
One of the posters that hung in my office for years (written by Chief Poundmaker of the Cree Nation) reads:

Poundmaker, Cree Nation

"It would be so much easier just to fold our hands and not make this fight. . . . . to say, 'I, one man, can do nothing.'

"I grow afraid only when I see people thinking and acting like this.

We all know the story about the man who sat beside the trail too long, and then it grew over and he could never find his way again.

"We can never forget what has happened, but we cannot go back nor can we just sit beside the trail."

Opeteca-hanawaywin
(Poundmaker, 1842-1886)
Cree Nation