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Central Park in Vancouver in Clark County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)
 

Theodore A. Penland Rose Garden

 
 
Theodore A. Penland Rose Garden Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Kevin W., June 14, 2008
1. Theodore A. Penland Rose Garden Marker
Inscription.
This rose garden is dedicated
to the memory of
Theodore A. Penland
1849 – 1950

last Commander-in-Chief of
the Grand Army of the Republic

Plaque presented by The Daughters of Union Veterans and the Woman’s Relief Corps, Auxiliary to the G.A.R. of Clark County, Washington

 
Erected by The Daughters of Union Veterans and the Woman’s Relief Corps, Auxiliary to the G.A.R. of Clark County, Washington.
 
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Horticulture & ForestryWar, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the The Grand Army of the Republic series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1849.
 
Location. 45° 38.219′ N, 122° 39.381′ W. Marker is in Vancouver, Washington, in Clark County. It is in Central Park. It is on C Street Circle, on the right when traveling east. On the grounds of the Vancouver Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1601 East 4th Plain Boulevard, Vancouver WA 98661, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Portland Area and in Southwest Washington State. It is also on the American Pacific Coast, in the Pacific Northwest, and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, the Pacific Rim, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Officers Row (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Grant House (approx. 0.6 miles away); a different marker also named Officers Row
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(approx. 0.7 miles away); Vancouver Barracks Parade Ground (approx. 0.7 miles away); The Marshall House (approx. 0.7 miles away); The Reservation Monument (approx. 0.7 miles away); Cannon Replica Project (approx. 0.7 miles away); Congressional Medal of Honor Monument (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Vancouver.
 
Regarding Theodore A. Penland Rose Garden. The marker is adjacent to a flagpole on the grounds of the Vancouver Veterans Affairs Medical Center. It is unclear where the rose garden mentioned on the marker was originally located.
 
Also see . . .  Theodore Augustus Penland. Fins A Grave website entry (Submitted on April 5, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.) 
 
Additional commentary.
1. Theodore A. Penland
Theodore Penland, last Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, passed away on Wednesday morning, September 13, 1950 at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Vancouver, Washington. In 1949, he presided at the Grand Army of the Republic's 83rd and final encampment (attended by six
Theodore A. Penland Rose Garden Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Richard Wilton Penland, May 29, 2009
2. Theodore A. Penland Rose Garden Marker
members) in Indianapolis, Indiana.
    — Submitted June 19, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.
 
Theodore A. Penland Rose Garden Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Kevin W., June 14, 2008
3. Theodore A. Penland Rose Garden Marker
At the base of the flagpole. It is unclear where the rose garden referred to on the marker is actually located.
Theodore A. Penland<br>The Last Commander-in-Chief of the G.A.R. image. Click for full size.
circa 1949
4. Theodore A. Penland
The Last Commander-in-Chief of the G.A.R.
Theodore A. Penland, was the Last Commander-in-Chief of the G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic - Union Civil War Veterans Association). He was one of the last seventeen Civil War Veterans (both North and South) alive in 1949 at 101 years old. He joined the Union Army at 16 years old. Even in the 1860’s you needed to be 18 years old to join the Army and after being turned down several times, he placed two pieces of paper in the soles of his shoes and told the Recruiters “I am over 18 now.” His father John Penland died at the Battle of Stones River Campaign, near Murfreesboro, TN.
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on April 5, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 19, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,370 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos:   1. submitted on June 19, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.   2. submitted on June 3, 2009, by Richard Wilton Penland of Vicenza, Italy.   3. submitted on June 19, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.   4. submitted on November 27, 2008, by Richard Wilton Penland of Vicenza, Italy.
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Jun. 17, 2026