BRANDON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Some vintage military hardware was delivered to a Fond du Lac County veterans memorial, just in time for the Fourth of July.
The M60 Patton tank has a new home at the Brandon Community Park.
“The world is made on memories, so we wanted to keep the people’s memory intact,” said Jim Otto, chairman for the Brandon Area Veterans Memorial Committee.
Otto tells FOX 11 the Brandon Veterans Memorial had been missing something to help keep those memories alive.
That’s where the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 1158th Transportation Company comes in.
“This was one of their commitments to come, and take this tank from its location and bring it here. It was a part of their training, and it went very well -completely, completely a first class operation.”
The mission? Deliver the nearly 100,000-pound inoperable M60 Patton tank to sit permanently at Brandon Community Park.
But moving this heavy military tank that was about 72 miles away in Westfield was no easy task.
But Otto says the soldiers of the 1158th are trained to do just that.
“It took about an hour and a half to get it unloaded, and it went as smooth as silk. They really knew what they were doing.”
The purpose? To salute veterans in a community, where honoring veterans is so important.
“They really take to heart what the guys have done in the past and how much they deserve to be recognized.”
Brandon Area Veterans Memorial Committee member Pamela Sauer tells FOX 11 the tank has already drawn more veterans to the site.
“Children are actually picking up their parents, and bringing them here that are maybe in nursing homes, and such, so a great place for them to come and remember, and know that they’re honored.”
The Brandon Veterans Memorial Committee built the memorial just a few years ago.
Hundreds come to the area, each year, for the parades and celebrations for veterans.
