Wisconsin XIII

 

Neillsville has one of the most interesting and expansive memorials that I have visited. What began as a remembrance for those lost or missing in Vietnam, it has expanded to include many others from other wars. You can take a look at previous posts here and several other post all listed under Wisconsin.

Today, as is so often the case these days, I want to concentrate on some of the other faces from this remarkable site.Some of these are from the 'nam section of the memorial, others , I cannot swear to that, but they are all of soldiers and those touched by war who are not soldiers, but loved ones.

This is the weary face of a Nurse, definitely from 'nam.

 The face of a soldier aiding a fallen buddy.

The buddy.

Family, the other victims of war.

The Highground in Neillsville is a magnificent place. Located in the geographical center of Wisconsin it is available to all Wisconsinites in a one day trip. For the rest of us it is located at: W7031 W Ridge Rd, Neillsville, WI 54456.

It is open 24/7 and is free to all. Go see it! 

Next time, on the 24th, we will return to Alaska, so join me there at 9:00am.

To see additional memorials from Wisconsin, or any other state, please click on the state name on the left side of this page.

Thanksgiving 2021, Native American Vets

Thanksgiving is upon us once again and we have many things for which to be grateful. My list is most assuredly different from yours, but I think we should all agree that the service of Native Americans must be high on anyone's list.

So, today, I am going to hold back on the previously promised visit to South Carolina to address the service of Native Americans.

No group in America serves in our country's defense at a greater rate.

I have written and posted before about the National Native American Vietnam Memorial and you can find that elsewhere on this site. It is located in Neillsville,Wisconsin at a site called The Highground.

 

 

Today, however I want to share the newly dedicated National Native American Memorial in Washington DC.

I posted a couple of pics last November as it was about to be dedicated, but at the time, I could not gain access as it was mostly shrouded in preparation for the next days unveiling.

 

Just outside the Museum of the American Indian in Washington DC is the one year old Native American Veterans Memorial enclosed by a plethora of trees, shrubs, and water plants.

Here you can see the four lances with feathers, prayer clothes, and other mementos that people leave at the site. The green plant life on the surface of the water is Duck weed which will recede during the colder months. I am told there is a plan to remove it before next spring.

Among the many prayer clothes and other things left behind was this teddy bear.

Each of the Services is noted and honored at the entrance to the site.

This is a beautiful and long over due reminder of just how valiantly Native Americans have defended this country. It is striking in its gorgeous setting and in its simplicity, there are no names (those lost in Vietnam are listed upon the memorial in Wisconsin) and no wars listed.

Next time, on Thanksgiving Day I will be with family, I hope you are too. 

I will post a quick holiday greeting and then visit South Carolina on the 30th, so join me there,as usual, at 9:00am.

To visit Vietnam memorials from any state, please click on the state name on the left side of this page.

Wisconsin VII

Here are a few more pics from this marvelous site. In addition to these the site honors Korean War, WWII, the Iraqi and Afghanistan vets and others. There is also a replica of the Liberty Bell which is often rung for those remembered or as part of ceremonies.

The pics are of the sunset on the native American Memorial I wrote about earlier.

The sculpture is seven Peace Doves (recalling those released at the funeral of a fallen hero) rising from the Meditation Garden and is one of several "rooms" that one may visit and reflect. These include a "Family room, a place for prayer, a fountain of tears and a picnic shelter."

The final pic from The Highground is of the Wisconsin map created by the donations from every county in the state.

There is, also, a new education center that has a variety of programs that rotate through. Currently, there is an exhibit of photos taken by Robert Ellison a civilian photog killed in"Nam when the plane he was riding on with a group of 49 Marines crashed after receiving ground fire; all were lost.

I hope that you all will someday have the opportunity to visit this exceptional place of peace, love and remembrance. I promise you will not regret it.

Once again, here is their contact info.

The Highground
W7031 Ridge road
Neillsville, WI 54456

highgrnd@tds.net

Or their website

www.thehighground.org

There are many ways in which any individual can help support this most noble and worthy place.

Wisconsin V

Located, also, in the sacred spot is the National Native American Vietnam Veteran's Memorial.

Left out of the memorial in D. C., Native Americans decided to build their own memorial. Interestingly, this mirrors what 'Nam vets had to do, too.

The site consists of an Native American soldier in fatigues, holding a rifle in one hand and an Eagle feather staff in the other. He, also, wears a headband; an iconic symbol to most of us.

He is standing on ten tons of red granite, symbolizing shed blood. At the base is a circle of white stones depicting a field of honor.

The names of all the Native Americans who perished as a result of the war are etched into black granite that encircles the entire site. Inscribing the Tribal affiliation of each name is a project that will be completed in the future.

The information available at the site says that the land chose the place for the memorial. I didn't quite understand this so I called and spoke to another of the great staff at this site and he explained that when some of the Native American planning team visited The Highground, the land "spoke to them" and they knew this was where they wanted their memorial.

So, today its majesty and dignity greet all who come to remember. And this is most fitting because, as a cultural group, Native Americans have a greater rate of service than anyone in America!

Wisconsin III

Another feature at the Highground is the first veteran's memorial specifically honoring the women who served.

The statue, near the flags poles, was the model for a submission for the memorial on the Mall, in Washington, D. C. If it had been chosen, it would have been life sized and on the Mall. Now, she has a place of honor at the Highground.

There are other women here, too.

There is a WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) The statue is by Dorothy Swain Lewis, who was a WASP. I noted in a previous post that it was many years after their noble service that these brave women were finally recognized by the Government (1977). It was just last March (2010) that they were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. A long way from having to pass the hat to collect the money to send home their 38 sisters, who perished in service!

Another woman is here, too. She sits, with her child, mourning the loss of her husband, her child's father. While the particular site is not a Vietnam Tribute, the loss and message are larger than any one conflict.

Wisconsin II

If you look over to the right and down from "Fragments" you will see a most unusual sight.

Often missed by visitors, The Earthen Dove Effigy Mound measures 100 feet long, with a 140 foot wingspan, and is 6 1/2 feet high at its peak. Dedicated to POW/MIA's it was constructed with earth from all of Wisconsin's 72 counties, many states, Vietnam and 18 countries.

Its origins can be traced to the Native American Mound tradition. At its dedication in 1989, John Beaudin, a native American Vietnam War vet explained;

"It is a spiritual place where you can go and let your mother, the earth, hold you. Let the children play on it. Dance on it. Use it to unload your grief and pain. Lay back in the soft folds of its wings and let Mother Earth unburden you. Then get up and leave your troubles and cares there on the mound, as you walk away renewed, refreshed, and strengthened"

In 1992 a vet came to see the park. He visited the mound, lit incense and thought about his brother who has never been found. He felt a new sense of peace. He met with some other vets and three years later the Vietnamese/American Peace park was dedicated in his country; we used to call it North Vietnam. Located 60 miles north of Hanoi this park commemorates the sacrifices of war.

You can read more about this park, here;

www.mylaipeacepark.org/peacepark.va.lasso

This URL takes you to a story about how an attempt was made to build the Peace park near Hanoi, but that it ended up in Mylai. Other sites I have seen say that the one in Hanoi was built, still others say that it is still being worked on. If I find information that settles this I will post it. If you know anything about it I would love to know. You can reach me via the email address at the left.

The Highground flies the American flag and the POW/MIA flag at all times in honor of the lost and missing that we might Never Forget.