New memorial on Main Street in Albion honors veterans

Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – A new memorial quietly was added to Main Street in Albion about a week ago. Bigger fanfare for the memorial could come on Veterans Day on Nov. 11.

Mary Anne Braunbach pushed for the Blue Star Memorial through the National Garden Clubs. The memorial is just south of the Main Street canal bridge on the west side of the road in front of PathStone. Braunbach owns the building at 140 North Main St., where PathStone is a tenant.

She has noticed traffic will often stop before the bridge when the lift bridge goes up or if vehicles are waiting for farm equipment to pass through.

“This is a perfect place to honor veterans,” Braunbach said. “When the bridge is up, people will stop and see it.”

She hopes the memorial will also encourage pedestrians to get out and explore the downtown.

A state grant paid for the marker, and Braunbach paid for the stone. Brigden Memorial in Albion attached the plaque on the stone. The village Department of Public Works set the concrete pad for the stone.

The Soil, Toil and Thyme Garden Club sponsored the memorial. Braunbach was part of that group for about 20 years. The garden club recently disbanded but laid the groundwork for getting the Blue Star Memorial.