Waupun Walls of Glory
Saturday, September 15, 2012
World War II
Jerold Hull
Walter W. Brinkerhoff
Dirk Derksen
Ambrose Konter
Paul S. Lemke
La Verne Shaw
Lyle Snyder
Trank Trilling, Jr.
Cornelius Vander Galien
Klaas Visser
Walter W. Weinberger
Hendrick T. De Hartog
Harold A. Ter Beest
William Bristel
Donald Witt
Benjamin Vande Zande
Clifford Vanderbush
William S. Staehling
Raymond Smith
Calvin Rens
Harlan Palmer
Robert Lind
Henry Landaal
Russell W. Crowe
Robert Betler
The Walls of Glory in Waupun
WAUPUN ~ The Waupun Area
Veterans Memorial Wall, an ongoing community project, has just completed the
4th phase of the project when an additional fifth wall was put in place on
October 1st, 2009. When the four existing walls became filled with veterans’ names
due to overwhelming public input, more space was needed, since this was planned
from the beginning to be a never-ending project, as veterans continue to serve
our country in the future.
The wall project is a
tribute to all Waupun area veterans who have served, or are now serving our
country, since the War of 1812 to the current War on Terrorism and future
hostilities. By Veterans Day 2009, there will be a total of 1,032 names of
honorably discharged veterans engraved onto these five granite walls.
The walls have gained as
much attention as the famous "End-of-the-Trail" statue standing only
a few feet away in Shaler Park. People stop daily to read the names of Waupun
area veterans, many of whom are still living. The walls are adjacent to the "Killed-in-action"
Veterans Memorial Monument, and a water fountain sprays water in the background
on the city mill pond, adjacent to the new Harris Mill Park.
The wall project was
officially begun in the fall of 2004, when project director, Gerald
"Jerry" Heeringa, then commander of Getchel-Nelson American Legion
Post 210, surveyed the community businesses, organizations, and private
citizens to determine if they would support the project. Their response was
overwhelming. Jerry then enlisted the help of Frank Mesa, commander of
Bentley-Hull VFW Post 6709, who became the project co-director. Together, they
met with the city council to request and receive approval for the project in
its location in Shaler Park. The National Bank of Waupun was asked to serve as
the treasurer for this ongoing project. Hilgendorf "Rock-of-Ages"
Memorials of Grafton, Wisconsin was contracted to provide the granite walls,
bases, and etchings for the project.
Frank Mesa (left) and
Gerald "Jerry" Heeringa Fundraising then began from local businesses,
organization, and private donors, plus those who wished to place veterans names
on the walls. The first phase of the project, installation of concrete
foundation for the 20 ft. wall was completed in the fall of 2004. The concrete
and labor was donated by area businesses. Delivery of the 20 ft. wall was
unexpectedly postponed, however, until the spring of 2005 due to granite quarry
problems. In the Spring of 2005, because of the overwhelming and somewhat
unexpected interest in the project, the next phase was begun with the
installation of the concrete foundations for two additional 10 ft. walls.
In May 2005, both phase I
and phase II walls were installed. The 20 ft. granite wall and base (weighing
over 12-ton), and each 10 ft. wall (weighing over 6-ton each) were delivered
from a granite quarry in Vermilion Bay, Ontario, Canada. Following the delivery
of the walls, 420 names were engraved onto the 20 ft. wall prior to Memorial
Day 2005. Additional names were added in July 2005. In addition, names were added
to the phase II 10 ft. walls bringing the total names on the walls at that time
to 750.
The project continued to
increase with the addition of another 10 ft. phase III wall, and an additional
96 names were etched on the granite walls for a total of 846 names. Each 10 ft.
wall holds 210 names.
In May 2006, a podium and
five flag poles, each signifying a different branch of the services, along with
decorative stone and considerable landscaping, was added just prior to Memorial
Day 2006. The message on the podium reads: "These memorial walls are a
tribute to all the veterans of the Waupun area who have served from the War of
1812 to current and future hostilities." This message is intended to
explain the purpose of the project and has been put in place facing the
project.
In 2007, the pledge of
allegiance was added to the face of the podium, and an additional 41 veterans’
names were etched onto the wall for a then total of 887 names.
Since that time, veterans’
names have been added to the walls twice yearly, prior to Memorial Day and
prior to Veterans Day. With the fifth wall now in place, there is room for a
total of 1,250 names on these Memorial Walls. Each engraved name includes the
branch of service, period of service, and (optional) rank. The only requirement
for placing a veteran's name on the wall is that the veteran's service was, or
is, honorable. And there is no restriction on serving, whether in peace time or
war time, or branch of service, and veterans can still be serving at this time.
These Memorial Walls are a
way to recognize all veterans, not just the fallen soldiers or the ones who
served in combat.
The entire cost of this
project, thus far, running near $149,000.00, with approximately 1/3rd of the
cost covering the expense of the granite and the tedius task of engraving the
names. However, the project is almost completely paid for. Approximately 1/3rd
of the money has come from the veterans themselves, or from their friends and
families for putting their names onto the walls. Besides the donation of cash,
many businesses, organizations, and private donors donated materials and their
services to the project. And some cash donations were even received from
out-of-state
donors.
A DVD, entitled "The
Video History of Waupun Area Veterans Memorial Wall Project", was produced
by the media dept. of Waupun High School with Jerry Heeringa as
narrator/advisor, and is available for a $10 donation.
Forms with information for
having a name placed on the wall are available at all five Waupun banks, both
grocery stores, Waupun Culver's and the Waupun Chamber of Commerce.
For more information,
contact Jerry Heeringa at 324-2641, or Frank Mesa at 324-4641. (Photos and
story by Larry Duer, VFW Post 6709)
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