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All Veterans Memorial, Saginaw, MI

The flag plaza serves as a place for individuals to commemorate their friends and relatives who served the nation The All Veterans Memorial Park on Hoyt Street in Saginaw is part old and part new. Dedicated in 2005, it incorporates several new elements and old monuments from other locations that had been erected during different eras. The result is a very interesting memorial park where citizens can spend a restful afternoon, remembering old friends and learning a bit more of their community.

The new element is a flag plaza where memorial paving bricks hold names, dates, and unit data of veterans. It's both fun and sobering to stand here and try to put together the stories of the servicemen and servicewomen. One grouping shows five brothers that served, another shows siblings that served during the Civil War and are remembered by their great grandchildren. A trooper of the 82nd Airborne and a World War II nurse with the same last name...a wartime romance that ended in a lifetime of marriage? Maybe something good does come of war! The Pope family, four members across three wars. And the sacrifices of the Parth family; a grouping of eight bricks, service in three wars, and three men that did not return from World War II.

The World War I memorial offers a dedication and honor roll.

World War I

The photo of the dedication plaque isn't good at all and I intend to re-shoot it when next in the Saginaw area. This memorial originally sat downtown near the county courthouse. The bronze face of the dedication is in very bad condition and barely legible. The honor roll names are legible and one of the plaques may have been replaced, as it looks nearly new.

World War II

The World War II monument is a nice granite piece with a center sprire holding a dedication and broad base that holds ten bronze honor roll plaques.

The World War II tableau is a very pleasing presentation.

"Erected to God and in honor of those men and women of Saginaw County who gave their lives in World War II and all other wars"

"Dedicated to the memory of those who gave their lives that we might live in freedom.
Saginaw Exchange Club
May 30, 1944

Korean War

Dedicated almost 50 years after the event, the Korean War veterans are properly honored with his black granite monument. Gladly, the service seals include the US Merchant Marine, an often forgotten element of any war aboard.

Korean War monument commemorates service and sacrifice of over 142,000 casaulties.

Dedicated July 27, 2003
33,742 K.I.A.
103,284 W.I.A.
8,215 M.I.A.

Freedom Is Not Free

Dedicated by the
Korean War Veteran's Association
Chapter 251

Click on the photo to see at full size. Honor roll is very legible. VietNam

In memory of Saginaw Coutny VietNam veterans who died in VietNam

and all who served

This monument stands boldly in its presentation area; simple in design and having purpose with its message of remembrance. For some that remember our fallen this is the first, last, and only point for them. For others; like the friends of Rollie Northouse, they choose to travel back to places like Khe Sahn and stand where their comrades fell. Remembering those last moments . . . with his Gold Star mother at their side.

For relatives of others listed here it has been a difficult journey. LtCol Lewis Robinson died in a Laotian jungle on June 4, 1967, when his A-4D Skyraider crashed during what was probably a covert operations mission. His remains were located more than 20 years later, in 1988, but not immediately identified. It wasn't until 1998 that the war was really over for his family.

This honor roll, like thousands of others across the nation, stands as testimony to the respect we offer our fallen. For some it is the last stop on their journey. And for others, like you and me, it may be the first stop on a short trip of learning about those that sacrificed for our nation.