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Visitors through the pedestrian gate are greeted by a dedication to veterans

All Veterans Memorial &   John Megarah Post 85 WRC
Portland Cemetery
Portland, Ionia County

""Erected by the Citizens of Portland in memory of the Union volunteers under the auspices of the
John Megarah Relief Corp - 1898"

 

Although this cemetary was obviously founded before veterans issues were a topic of concern, the Portland Cemetary now proudly proclaims that many of the internments here ARE veterans. An on going Eagle Scout project is attempting to identify EVERY veteran and direct visitors to their gravesite. When I visited the project looked very temporary and incomplete, I'll revisit another time and photograph the final honor roll for display here.

The original graveyard entrance has been turned into a gateway to a recently constructed Veterans Memorial area. A simple bronze plaque and flag plaza dedicates this to all veterans.

Just beyond this plaza is a Civil War Monument erected in 1898 from the Ladies of the John Megarah Post 85 of the Womens Relief Corps. The fact that no specific GAR post is mentioned is unusual and may indicate the ladies of the WRC and town citizens took the initiative to honor their men very seriously and that the men of the GAR were not involved.

I noticed a little quirk in the bronze plaque with the flag depiction... the stripes are wrong..