Tribute to Colonel Westnedge

When word reached Kalamazoo that Colonel Joseph B. Westnedge had died in a military hospital in Nantes, France on November 29, 1918 — eighteen days after the Armistice — the city felt the loss deeply. He was not merely a soldier; he was a neighbor, a colleague, a civic leader, and a friend to thousands.

Colonel Westnedge had volunteered for service at an age when many men his rank had long since stepped aside. His parting words — "We are going, perhaps never to return, and the parting is hard, but a call greater than any other summons us away" — had proven prophetic. He was 46 years old.

Two years after his death, Colonel Westnedge was finally brought home to Kalamazoo. His reburial at Riverside Cemetery drew thousands of mourners who lined the streets of the city to pay their respects as the funeral procession passed.

The outpouring of grief and gratitude was a testament to the esteem in which he was held — not only as a military commander, but as a man who had given everything for his country and his community. Veterans, civic leaders, schoolchildren, and ordinary citizens stood together along the route, many in silence, many in tears.

In one of the most enduring tributes the city could offer, West Street was renamed Westnedge Avenue in his honor. The avenue runs through the heart of Kalamazoo to this day, ensuring that every resident and visitor who travels it encounters the name of the man who gave his life in service to his nation.

It is a living memorial — one that does not require a visit to a cemetery or a museum, but is woven into the daily fabric of the city he loved.

On June 5, 1919 — just months after the Armistice and before Colonel Westnedge had even been brought home — the veterans of Kalamazoo chartered American Legion Post 36 in his name. It was a deliberate and meaningful choice: to ensure that the men who had served alongside him, and the generations of veterans who would follow, would carry his memory forward.

For over a century, Post 36 has honored that commitment. Every meeting held, every veteran served, every scholarship awarded, and every community event hosted is a continuation of the legacy Colonel Westnedge began — a legacy of service, sacrifice, and devotion to something greater than oneself.