OCONTO, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A foundation in Oconto is remembering those who have served the country with a veterans memorial.
New additions to this monument have just begun.
“I feel like a kid at Christmas,” said Edward Weigelt, President of the Oconto County Veteran’s Fund.
Oconto County Veterans Memorial Corporation broke ground on phase two of its veterans memorial on Wednesday.
“I just can’t wait to get this ground broke and get started,” said Carl Plaster, Secretary of Oconto County Veterans Memorial Corporation.
The completed first phase of the project includes a star atop a concrete base.
An American flag rests in the center, surrounded by flags from each branch of the military.
The entirety of the project will cost about $700,000. The corporation has raised upwards of $63,000.
“We’ve been planning for this for 10 years. Working on it, getting it going, getting the people onboard,” added Plaster.
This new addition will set the foundation for walls for future statue installments.
The completed phase will include the names of all Oconto veterans since the county’s founding in the early 1850s.
“Jump onboard, help us honor our veterans. Their name goes on the wall for free so we honor them with our whole heart and what they do for us, what they were in, what they gave up,” added Plaster.
The organization made a deal with the City of Oconto to include its World War One cannon in the monument.
“We’re gonna be bringing it here and putting it in our memorial. It’ll still belong to the city but, we’ll be taking care of it,” added Weigelt.
The cannon will make its way to the memorial as a part of the Oconto Copperfest Parade on June 10.
Phase three will include the educational wall component of the monument.
“Where we’re telling them about the wars. The POW, MIA, KIA’s of the front, and then when that gets done, phase four would be the big walls coming in and getting the names up and the statues, and before you know it, we’ll be done,” said Plaster.
Board members say this memorial belongs to the people of Oconto.
“We want it here for generations to come,” said Weigelt.
Oconto County Veterans Memorial Corporation plans to continue adding the names of all county military veterans in the future.
Those who would like to aid in the memorial’s efforts can send donations to The Stephenson National Bank and Trust office in Oconto or make a check out to Oconto County Veterans Memorial Corp. to Edward Weigelt, 124 Quincy St., Oconto, WI 54153.
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