The Highground Veterans Memorial Park
1. The Flagpole was the first 2. The National Native American Vietnam Veterans 3. The Korean
permanent structure on The Memorial is the first National Memorial to come to The Tribute honors
Highground. It was brought here by Highground. Mounted on a ten ton piece of red granite those from “The
the Clark County Area Veterans symbolizing the blood that was shed, the sculpture Forgotten War”.
Council. They also voted to keep depicts an American Indian soldier in jungle fatigues, The three bronze
flags flying here forever. holding a rifle in one hand and an Eagle feather staff in figures depict
the other. At the base is a Cold, Heat, and
The Nurse pays circle of white stones Anguish, the
tribute to all depicting a field of honor. conditions that
women who The names of all American made living and
served our Indians in North America fighting in Korea
nation. She has who died as a result of the an unending nightmare. The figures are on granite slabs shaped
a place of Vietnam war are etched like the peninsula of Korea in the midst of the Ying-Yang circle,
honor in front into the black granite base the symbol on the South Korean Flag. Water surrounds the
of the flagpole. which skirts the entire peninsula emphasizing the distance these men are from home,
statuary. friends, and family.
4. The Meditation Garden has 4 rooms for reflection and meditation: the Family Arbor 5. The WWII Women 6. The WWII Globe
Room, the Prayer Stone, the Fountain of Tears and the Meditation Shelter. The Airforce Service Pilots or features stained glass
pathways join into one at the WASP are proud of the role campaign ribbons to
Ascension of Doves sculpture women pilots played during reflect the different
greeting visitors as they enter the WWII even though the US areas of service.
garden from the west. Sponsored government did not These ribbons
by a Gold Star Family in memory recognize the women as match the soldier’s
of their son who died in Iraq. Seven service veterans until the late blouse decorations
doves were released at his funeral 1970s. During WWII over worn by World War
and seven doves rise from their 1100 WASP served as test II veterans. This
earthly ties to soar toward the pilots, flying instructors, and transport pilots tribute is the result
heavens in this memorial. allowing male pilots to be used in combat. of two designs: the
five foot diameter globe and the
4-sided black granite base. The
7. The Dove honors base lists the major battles in the
Prisoners of War Pacific Theater and European
(POW) and those who Theater. The “Kilroy Was Here”
remain Missing in inscription on the west side of the
Action (MIA). It is 8 base tells a story worth reading.
10 7
made up of the earth 9
from all 72 counties in 11
Wisconsin; many states 5
16
in the US, North and 14 12 4
1 6
South Vietnam and 18
3
countries. A second 2
13
MIA is recognized on
The Highground: 14
sc ar red physically,
mentally, emotionally,
15 8. The Wisconsin’s Vietnam Tribute is
these are people we
recognize as Missing in called Fragments, located at the point
America. on the plaza. From there you can view
a half a million acres and many of the
tributes. See inside for more of the
story.
9. The WI Counties United in 10. The Gold Star, a living tribute,
Service Tribute is meant to honors all those families, who not
remind all of us how only lost a member as a result of
important our communities their service, but those who
and families are when our supported their loved ones when
veterans come home. We are they came home. The shrubs and
all united because the human bushes were planted with soil
11. The Stone, cost of war is shared by added from families’ yards, gardens
combined with The everyone. or locations they last saw their loved ones alive. We know that many
Registry creates the veterans give every day of the rest of their lives as a result of their service.
true legacy. The
13. Our Liberty Bell is an exact replica of the Liberty Bell in
Registry allows the
Philadelphia, PA. Visitors are encouraged to ring the bell
stone honoree (or
by the words on the large white oak beam across the entry:
family) to tell the 12. The Doughboy, our “Let Freedom Ring”. The Liberty Bell Foundation was
rest of the story— WWI tribute, is unique as it founded in 1976 by a group of businessmen from
there is a story that reflects The Highground’s Minnesota. The Liberty Bell was taken to thousands of
is behind every stone, whether a Legacy commitment to healing and schools throughout the United States, allowing over a
Stone, Meditation Stone or Korean education. It honors the million children in 36 states a first hand opportunity to learn
Tribute Stone. service and sacrifice of our about freedom. The foundation decided that the best place
Families are veterans and their families. for the Liberty Bell to continue its patriotic mission was at
encouraged to The Doughboy’s rifle is at The Highground.
continue to parade rest, rather than at
update the story ready. His right hand is 14. The Timberframe/Information/Gift Shop is
for generations outstretched and open in framed with 258 interlocking white oak timbers
to come and greeting instead of raised in weighing an impressive 51 tons and held together
read. anger as though holding a with 720 oak pegs. Equally impressive is that,
grenade. except for the roof and basement which were
contracted out, this structural masterpiece was
15. The Learning Center
designed and built by Highground staff and
became a reality with the
volunteers. Every inch was either donated or paid
acquisition of property for with donated dollars.
adjacent to The Highground.
The Learning Center features 16. Nestled among the four miles of hiking trails is the
a library, media center and a best example of flora in Clark County going from swamp
gallery. Exhibits and displays area to rolling hills replete with a broad brush of wildlife.
will be changed throughout the The Treehouse is handicap accessible for “kids” of all
year, making it a continuing ages within the 146 acre park. Uniquely structured
learning experience for all our around a 160 year old green ash tree which over looks our
visitors. The Learning Center developmental forest. This is a magnificent example of
promotes the mission of how volunteers and contributors come together to make
education for all of us. The Highground a place for all of us.
Volunteers & Contributors are the Heart of The Highground