Allegan County World War 1  Plaque

Remember and Honor Sometimes appreciation can be overwhelming and powerful. Such is the case for one man who discovered a local monument honoring WWI soldiers. It is best to hear Shawn tell his story. I am the Director of Facilities Management for Allegan County. Allegan is a rural farming county in the Southwestern Portion of MI. This beautiful part of America snugs up against Lake Michigan and boasts of being the largest county in the southern peninsula. Allegan County is the home to approximately 115,500 folks. I took this job about a year ago and while on a parks tour visiting our West Side Park, I saw this amazing monument that was constructed in tribute to the war that was to end all wars, WW I. It brought tears to my eyes and I choked up when I read the plaque (I am a retired US Army Veteran with two combat tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan). The plaque on the monument is scribed with the following: In Memory Of The Dead In Honor of The Living World War Soldiers Of Allegan County, Mich. Erected By The Club Women Of The County - 1925.

In 1925, at the foot of this amazing monument, two saplings were planted. These saplings are now almost 100 year old trees that stand in testament to the memory of those that gave for our country. Their memory now towers over the monument with amazing grace; however, their strong stature makes it difficult for people to admire the monument or even know there is a plaque on it dedicated to anything at all. The structure is also in desperate need of some mason work. We will be refurbishing the monument with mason work and transitioning the plaque to the opposite side. The moving of the plaque will allow folks to admire the monument, the trees representing those veterans that died and the beautiful sunsets that fall over Lake Michigan. We are trying to get the monument squared away by Monday, May 28, 2018 (Memorial Day). We thought it would be fitting to hold a remembrance ceremony on the 100th year anniversary of the war the monument was dedicated to. Please come if you can.

Shawn Stenberg Director of Facilities Management Allegan County The Allegan County Community Foundation is accepting donations to assist with the restoration of the monument. The goal is $1,500. Please consider a gift to restore this beautiful monument honoring those who served our country. To make an online gift (memo Memorial) please visit alleganfoundation.org or stop in to the Foundation office at 524 Marshall Street with a cash or check donation. 

Join us on May 28th - to remember and honor those who fought for our country.