Families and veterans gathered at Covered Bridge Park in Ada Township on Memorial Day for the first community-wide ceremony at the township's newest veterans memorial. The dedication marks a new permanent space for Ada residents to honor those who died serving the country.

The memorial was built through a partnership between McDonald-Osmer American Legion Post 451, the Ada Historical Society, Ada Township, and Forest Hills Central High School. The result is a six-panel granite display that walks visitors through Ada's role in every major conflict in American history.

A timeline etched in stone

The memorial panels start with Ada's founding in 1838 and the Perry expedition to Japan. They move chronologically through the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, the Cold War, and modern conflicts including the Persian Gulf War and post-9/11 deployments.

Brett Talbot, service officer for American Legion Post 451, said the township approached the Legion about creating a veterans memorial at the new park. The group chose a design that ties Ada's local history directly to the national story.

"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.

Bauman also helped lead the dedication of the Veterans Memorial Bridge on Cascade Road in nearby Cascade Township, a project that took about a year to complete according to Bauman.

Designed for families, not just veterans

The memorial's design intentionally includes images of women and children alongside soldiers in every panel. Talbot called it a "transgenerational story" meant to connect military service with life back home during wartime.

"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.

The panels also trace Ada's growth from a frontier settlement into a modern community, including the development of its new downtown village area.

Dan Shackleton, finance officer with the Post, said the memorial is meant to be a place for reflection.

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

A personal connection to Ada

Talbot has lived in Ada for five years. He said working on the memorial helped him learn the history of the community he now calls home.

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

The memorial sits at Covered Bridge Park, a gathering space that continues to expand as Ada Township develops its village area around the Thornapple River.