Thousands visit Highground to view walls

NEILLSVILLE – The Highground Veterans Memorial Park in Neillsville was filled with emotions, tears and gratitude for military veterans and those killed while serving during the Aug. 12 to 17 Week of Honor and Remembrance.

This event offered visitors to The Highground the chance to witness the first-ever joint display of "The Wall That Heals" Vietnam Memorial Wall, "The Wall of Remembrance" Desert Storm, Desert Shield, OIF, OF, OND and 9/11 Memorial Wall, and The Canadian Vietnam Memorial Wall.

Thousands of people came to The Highground, day and night, to view the walls. Daily ceremonies featured speakers ranging from a brigadier general, military veterans of Vietnam, Desert Storm and Iraq, to 16-year-old poet Becky Anason, who eloquently expressed her experience of seeing the walls. "Welcome Home, Brother" and "Welcome Home, Sister" may never have been spoken more than during this week at The Highground.

The Week of Honor & Remembrance began with a 187-mile escort of the three walls from La Crosse to The Highground in Neillsville. The escort, made up of more than 140 motorcycles and vehicles made many stops along a route through central Wisconsin where people could show their support and view The Wall That Heals exhibit truck. The escort received significant support, traffic control and police escorts from several sheriff's and city police departments. Among those who gave their outstanding assistance were: county sheriff's departments from Clark, La Crosse, Portage, Wood and Monroe counties; and police departments from the cities of La Crosse, Onalaska, West Salem, Sparta, Tomah, Port Edwards, Wisconsin Rapids, Stevens Point and Neillsville. The city of Tomah helped with staging and serving lunch to the escort at Recreation Park in Tomah.

While at The Highground, the walls were assembled by a team of volunteers, many of them Vietnam veterans. Throughout the week, the walls were attended day and night by volunteers from Wisconsin American Legions, VVAs, VFWs, WVV groups and individuals. A large number of volunteers worked throughout the event helping visitors, coordinating ceremonies and, eventually, getting the walls ready for their next destination.

As well as visiting the walls, veterans were able to sign their names and those of lost "brothers and sisters in arms" on The Highground's large maps of the Vietnam War, Desert Storm, Desert Shield, OIF, OEF and OND. These maps, each measuring over 16 feet by 24 feet were created by The Highground as a healing and educational display at each Highground event, weather permitting. The large maps of Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Afghanistan are a new addition, arriving Aug. 15.

Several businesses and organizations contributed to The Week of Honor and Remembrance. Among those were: Al Muth Harley-Davidson, Gordy's County Market, Hefko Floral, American Red Cross of Western Wisconsin, Mobility 4 Veterans Wheelchair Shop, Marshfield and Neillsville airports, Sav-Rite, Airgas of Eau Claire, Gross Motors, Sparta Walmart, Valley View Mall, Rapids Mall, Stevens Point Target, Hansen's IGA, Neillsville Country Club and Hardee's. For more details on the Week of Honor and Remembrance please visit www.thehighground.org.

The Highground will forever be changed because of the visit of these three military memorial walls and the thousands of veterans and others who visited. The Highground has been "found" by many that either did not know that it existed or did not know how truly unique, wonderful and healing a place that it is. The walls themselves may come away from The Highground with a renewed purpose, fortified by the honor and respect that is shown at The Highground for veterans and those who lost their lives while serving.

Contributed by Theresa Hebert, The Highground Veterans Memorial Park.