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Posted at 11:10 PM on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 by Wisconsin VFW News in Special Events
Major reconstruction of the causeway (“Isle of Honor”) connecting the north shoreline of Worzella Pines Municipal Park in the Village of Plover and the island upon which the Wisconsin Korean War Veterans Memorial is situated – along with reinforcement of the island shoreline, was completed in early November 2008 at a cost of $330,000. Veterans groups, foundations, corporations, the Village of Plover and countless individuals contributed to the cause to the tune of $165,000. Then the Wisconsin Legislature provided a matching grant which made it possible for the major reconstruction work to begin. Unforeseen environmental damage (erosion) had weakened the steel grid and concrete overlay over time. “ARMORFLEX,” a new product developed in Europe was installed, providing PERMANENCY to the memorial site. (To view photos of the project, visit the Association’s website at http://www.koreanmemorial.org)
A re-dedication ceremony and program will be held on Sunday, June 7, 2009 at the Plover site
with a starting time of eleven o’clock. A half-hour concert by the Brass Quintet ensemble of
the 132d Army Band, WIARNG will precede the formal program. Following Presentation of the Colors and the playing of the national anthems of the Republic of Korea and the United States of America, there will be a special ceremony – for the sixth consecutive year – in tribute to Wisconsin Fallen Heroes in the ongoing wars in Iraq and in Afghanistan. Brigadier General Donald Dunbar, The Adjutant General will be speaking, and there will be a solemn reading of the names of those who paid the “Supreme Sacrifice” for our country.
Also speaking will be the Honorable Sung Hwan Sun, the South Korean Consul General in Chicago. Ms. Seong Shin Ra of Seoul and Madison – wearing traditional Korean dress – will
sing the time-honored Korean folk song, “Arrirang.”
The annual programs at the Wisconsin Korean War Veterans Memorial complex are free to the public. For directions to the Memorial and parking, visit the KWVMAW website. Bring along a folding chair, bottled water, suitable raingear and a hat.
Posted at 06:57 PM on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 by Wisconsin VFW News in Special Events
Open House gives Wisconsin Residents an Opportunity to View a Home with History
The Wisconsin Veterans Home at King will host its annual Open House celebration Sunday, May 17, 2009 with free admission and parking. The day’s event draws over 1,500 visitors from across the state of Wisconsin and is located on the beautiful Waupaca Chain O’ Lakes at N2665 County Road QQ in the Village of King.
Highlights of the day include an antique car show with over 100 old cars expected to be on display. The Fox Valley Chapter of the Harley Owners Group will be in attendance with approximately 100 of their machines and members.
Through the courtesy of the Doubek Family, antique military vehicles and equipment will also be showcased throughout the grounds.An authentic encampment of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War will take place east of Highway QQ. These Civil War re-enactors come from all walks of life: authors, history teachers, lawyers, farmers, and factory workers, all people with a love of history and some connection to the Civil War. Veterans Home employment, admission, and volunteer information will be offered, tours of the Home’s facilities, food booths, and children’s games, including the huge rainbow inflatables, will all be part of the day’s free events. Mini golf will be offered, and “Uncle Sam” will be greeting the day's visitors. The Justmann Band will be performing in the park from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. featuring a wide variety of music including polkas, waltzes, swing, country, modern rock, and a variety of other music. “The Chief Waupaca,” an authentic sternwheel cruiser, will provide free boat rides on the beautiful Chain O’ Lakes courtesy of the ClearwaterHarbor. “This is a day for families and the citizens of Wisconsin to visit our home here at King to discover the wide variety of services and opportunities that are available.This event is geared specifically as a family day, with something for everyone,” said Bill Crowley, Commandant of the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King.
The Wisconsin Veterans Home at King has been proudly ‘Caring for America’s Heroes’ for the past 122 years. Originally opened in 1887 with 50 beds, this state of the art facility is currently operated by the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs and is the home to almost 700 veterans. “I strongly encourage people to see first hand the excellent quality of life enjoyed by the veterans living here and spend the day with us,” added Commandant Crowley.
More information can be obtained by contacting Laura Mays, Agency Liaison, at 715-258-4247 or go to www.wvhking.com.
Posted at 01:07 PM on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 by Wisconsin VFW News in Special Events
7th Grade Social Studies Classes Continue a Tradition of Fourteen Years
(King, WI) Fourteen years ago, Kathy Look, a 7th grade Social Studies teacher at Delong Middle School in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, made the decision that her students should honor the veterans who had given them a country where they could grow up free. She felt students needed to better understand the sacrifices made by many men and women. She thought about how she could do this and cover all the wars involved? The memorial quilts evolved.
Now, every year, 7th Grade Social Studies students are asked to choose a veteran they know. If they don’t know one, the teachers find one for them. The project begins each spring. Students are divided into groups to research all wars of our country. A week or two of time is allowed to complete this portion of the assignment. Each group must then give a complete and informative presentation to the rest of the class on the war they chose. Then the real work begins.
Each student interviews their selected veteran or a member of the veteran’s family. All veterans, war time and peace time, have a place on these quilts. They have all served their country with honor. Specific questions are asked. If they were in war, what war, what branch of military, their rank, their job, years of service, and where they were stationed or where they fought in battle? The veteran is also asked their most memorable event of serving. Some students will e-mail soldiers who are overseas right now.
Once all the information on the soldier is gathered, the student begins personalizing the quilt piece. Name, rank, branch and years of service are placed forefront. Many, many scenarios have been portrayed by the students. Students have made Purple Hearts, copied badges and created scenes depicting warfare. This work is accomplished during class time, approximately forty minutes a day. It takes several weeks to complete these quilt pieces and the classrooms are filled with materials such as: glue, paint, stencils, markers, scissors, fabrics, books on aircraft and battleships, posters of wars, battles, military bases, medals and posters of ranks for every single branch of service. As they leave the classroom they must hang their piece on the wall until they return the next day. Over the weeks, the pieces develop into works of art.
By the end of the school year, the pieces are completed and gathered from all the Social Studies classes. The pieces are then laid out in patterns and given to a wonderful group of women who volunteer their time to put these quilt pieces together over the summer. When school starts in the fall, Delong Middle School will have three or four quilts, symbolizing 300 or more veterans, to display in the school’s auditorium.
This year, the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King was chosen to exhibit one of the quilts. Virginia Nowak, a teacher who works at Delong Middle School, has an Aunt and Uncle living at King, Jim and Pearl O’Donahue. Jim is a veteran of WWII and the cold war. He was stationed in Germany. Mr. and Mrs. O’Donahue have thirteen relatives represented on this quilt, including their two sons. “This quilt is dedicated to my family and all the other veterans on the quilt. I am proud to have it displayed at King,” said Nowak.
Recipients of the quilts are chosen with just a few requirements. The quilt must always be placed in view for the public. It is to forever hang on their walls and it must be looked upon with respect, honor and love. According to Nowak, “The students are the real benefactors of these quilts. They are the future; let them never forget our past.”
Pictured in the photo left to right are: Cindy O’Donahue, Virginia Nowak, Pearl O’Donahue, and Jim O’Donahue.
Story Courtesy Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs
Posted at 02:23 PM on Wednesday, March 4, 2009 by Wisconsin VFW News in Special Events
The Homecoming committee for Tom Tradewell has been working very hard to put together a "Second to None" Homecoming event for Tom.
Centered around the theme Milwaukee "Let The Good Times Roll", This three day event is Wisconsin's turn to host the VFW membership from across the country to honor our own National Commander Tom Tradewell.
The Homecoming packet for the week-end is shown below and is also available on line in the Downloadable Forms section of E-Forms (Printable Version). Please "open it up" and you will find the food, fun and tours that are planned.
In the book, an also reproduced on this page, please take special note of the ad form for the Congratulatory book we are preparing. We are using this both as a fund-raiser for the event and as a keepsake as well. Our wish is to have an ad in this book from every Post, Auxiliary, District, and County Council within the state of Wisconsin.
Personal ads, ads from groups of Tom's friends or memorial ads are also welcome. Do not worry about preparing an ad. We will help. Call us with what you want in your ad and we will prepare it.
Any questions on the event or the ads can be directed to Ed or Carla Stockel at 608-732-1430 or 262-642-0488. Don’t delay! We need your ads ASAP!!
Posted at 11:45 PM on Thursday, February 26, 2009 by Wisconsin VFW News in Special Events
It was a great contest, and many Posts across the state did very well for themselves. But the Top Three made out very well, indeed!
The Division Winners were:
Division One: Large Posts - Kenosha Post 1865
Division Two: Medium Posts - Altoona Post 10405
Division Three: Small Posts - Stanley Post 2711
All monies received up to the Saturday Drawing at our MidWinter Conference at the Wyndham Hotel & Conference Center, Milwaukee, have been included in the totals below. The chart shows the Division Participants ranked by funds submitted over the course of the contest.
As promised, the winning Post in each Division will receive their submitted funds as their prize.
Pictured in the photo left to right are: Cindy O’Donahue, Virginia Nowak, Pearl O’Donahue, and Jim O’Donahue.
