Families and veterans gathered in Ada Township on Memorial Day for the dedication of a new veterans memorial at Covered Bridge Park. The event marked the first community-wide Memorial Day ceremony held at the site.

The memorial was created through a partnership between McDonald-Osmer American Legion Post 451, the Ada Historical Society, Ada Township, and Forest Hills Central High School. According to Brett Talbot, service officer for American Legion Post 451, the township approached the American Legion about placing a veterans memorial at the new park.

A transgenerational story in granite

The memorial features six granite tablets that walk visitors through different eras of American history. The panels begin with events near Ada's founding in 1838, including the Perry expedition to Japan. They progress chronologically through the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World War I and World War II, the Cold War, and modern conflicts including the Persian Gulf War and post-9/11 operations.

"Well I hope that they get a feeling of how Ada has taken part in what what's developed over the years and how they've been involved in some of our wars and conflicts," said Mel Bauman.

The design intentionally includes women and children in every image. Talbot called it a "transgenerational story" that connects military service with life back home during times of war. The panels also trace Ada's growth from a frontier settlement to a modern community with its new downtown village.

"We wanted to relate to kids, we wanted kids to see this and know our story, not just the story this generation, but prior generations, and know that maybe they're part of that story too," Talbot said.

A place to remember

Dan Shackleton, finance officer with the Post, said the memorial is meant to serve as both a tribute and a gathering space.

"It'll be a great place for people to relax and just think about what freedoms we have in this country," Shackleton said.

Talbot, who has lived in Ada for five years, said the project helped him connect more deeply with the community.

"It was a way for me to discover Ada, personally, someone who's only been here for five years," Talbot said.

The dedication came on the heels of other Memorial Day observances in Ada. The annual service at Woodlawn Cemetery was co-hosted by the Ream McElroy Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9381 and Foss-Agin-Meyer American Legion Post 185. The program featured the VFW Color Guard, the Ada High School Band directed by Benjamin Hemming, and a reading of the Gettysburg Address by Callie Burgess, an Ada High School junior and the 2026 American Legion Buckeye Girls State Representative.

Guest speaker Command Sergeant Major (Retired) Allen Conley reflected on American leaders from George Washington to Martin Luther King Jr.

The memorial at Covered Bridge Park now stands as a permanent space for Ada Township residents to honor fallen service members and reflect on the community's role in American history.

This story was reported from Ada Township, Michigan. Sources include FOX 17 Online and Ada Icon.