Black Civil War soldier to be honored May 18 in Monroe ceremony

MONROE — More than 150 years later, Private Aaron Bromley will get his recognition.

Bromley, who had lived in Monroe County, was a Black soldier during the Civil War. He served with Company C of the 102nd U.S. Colored Infantry. Bromley is buried in an unmarked grave in Monroe’s Woodland Cemetery. But, that’s about to change.

For his 2025 Youth Leadership Team project with the American Battlefield Trust, Austin Ingall, 16, of Temperance, spent months researching Bromley and obtaining a military grave marker. Austin also worked with the City of Monroe and others to organize a military marker dedication and unveiling ceremony, which is planned for 2 p.m. May 18 at Woodland Cemetery, 438 Jerome St. in Monroe. The public is welcome to attend.

Austin learned about Bromley from his dad, David Ingall, a local historian.

“I wanted to get a stone,” Austin told The Monroe News in March. “Work began once I found out about the Leadership Team in August. Since then, it’s been a long process. I spent much of every single day since August trying to piece all this together.”

Here’s what you need to know to attend the May 18 ceremony.

Where should I park?

Parking will only be available on the streets near Woodland Cemetery. No parking will be available on cemetery grounds.

What should I bring?

A lawn chair.

What will I receive?

“All attending (one per family) will receive a commemorative ribbon, program with the first-ever comprehensive listing of Monroe County African American soldiers and a 40 numbered/stop Woodland Cemetery Civil War tour booklet, compliments of Nash-Hodges Camp #43, Department of Michigan, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War and The Monroe County Historical Society,” said David Ingall, Austin’s father.

What will be included in the ceremony?

Honor guard procession by Monroe Post 1138, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Co. A, 14th Michigan Volunteer Infantry and Sons of the Veterans Reserve Honor Guard
Welcome by City of Monroe Mayor Robert Clark
Opening remarks and Pledge of Allegiance by Austin
Invocation by Pastor Terrence Johnson of Monroe’s Second Missionary Baptist Church
Singing of “Battle Hymn of the Republic” by the Second Missionary Baptist Church Choir
Kevin Wood, President Abraham Lincoln re-enactor, will speak about emancipation and equality
Kojo Quartey, Monroe County Community College president, will speak about American American soldiers in the Civil War
A battle flags of the First Michigan Colored Infantry display by Matthew VanAcker of Save the Flags

Austin will discuss Bromley and other Monroe County soldiers in the 102nd U.S. Colored Infantry
Unveiling of Bromley’s military marker
Benediction by Johnson
Rifle volley salute by Monroe Post 1138, VFW and Co. A, 14th Michigan Infantry, Sons of Veterans Reserve Honor Guard
Taps performed by Mark Heath, past commander of Austin Blair Camp 7, Department of Michigan
Closing by Austin

Woodland Cemetery

The City of Monroe’s Woodland Cemetery opened in the early 1800s, according to the cemetery’s webpage. It has more than 7,000 burial sites.

“It’s one of Michigan’s oldest and most historical public cemeteries,” the webpage said. “Here rests Monroe’s pioneers, distinguished citizens, political/public officials and veterans of every U.S. military conflict, from the Revolutionary War to Vietnam. Included are three U.S. generals, five U.S. colonels, one territorial delegate to Congress, one U.S. senator, four U.S. representatives, numerous mayors, Michigan state senators and representatives, one Michigan secretary of state, two chief justices of the Michigan Supreme Court and Gen. George A. Custer family members.”

“The cemetery is thought to have an early ‘potter’s field’ and has the designation of being Monroe’s first cemetery to accept African Americans,” the webpage said. “In 1988, it was listed on the State Register of Historic Sites.”

— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com.

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