Don’t miss the activities taking place this weekend at The Highground, a place for healing and respite for veterans of all wars. The 155-acre park, located a few miles west of Neillsville off of Highway 10, is celebrating its 30th anniversary September 21-22.
Some highlights include a parade, fireworks, and UH-1H Huey helicopter landing. View a complete schedule below and visit The Highground online for additional info. For more on the park itself, read our article here!
Weekend Displays
“A Face for Every Name” Vietnam KIA from WI display in Learning Center
“Memorial Wall & Final Bridge Project”
Friday Sept 21
5:30pm – Vietnam Veterans Tour
Saturday Sept 22
9am – Reading of the names of WI KIAs/MIAs in Vietnam, Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan – Finished at approx 11am
10 am Static Display of UH-1H helicopter from VVA #331
11:00am Kokosz Family Raffle & Hot Dog Lunch – until 4pm
10:30am -Volunteers for Parade Staging should be at the Fairgrounds
11am – Staging for Parade at Clark County Fairgrounds
12pm – Yellow Ribbon Parade Begins through Neillsville to the Highground
1:30 – Landing of UH-1H Huey helicopter in Meditation Garden
1:45 – Missing Man Table Ceremony on Plaza by Rolling thunder Chapter 3, followed by Color Guard, Rifle Unit and Taps – Craig F. Folson VFW #8514 & Color Guard, Rifle Unit – Loyal American Legion #175
2:00pm 30th Anniversary Ceremony Presentation of Colors & Liberty Bell Rings 21 times National Anthem – Promise Quartet
Invocation – LTJG Joe Pinzl USN, Zion Lutheran Church
Welcome by Jon Weiler, Highground Executive Director
Jake Leinenkugel
John Miller
Skip Klabon – Vietnam Veteran Marine
Highground Volunteer Joel Brockman – Gold Star Father of Andrew Wallace
KIA Iraq Don Quicker – Original & Current Highground Board of Director, Vietnam Veteran Recognition of Original BOD & Families of Original BOD members
Reading of the Names with Presentation of Colors Rifle Salute “Taps”
Talking Circle
3:30-5:30pm Kids Activities at The Learning Center After Ceremony
4:00 pm BJ Prior book signsing and presentation “Behind My Wings”
4:00pm Chicken Dinner by Neillsville American Legion #73 until 8pm
4:30pm Steve Conto presentation “Final Bridge” & WI Vietnam Memorial Wall
5:00pm Concert Stage – Promise Quartet
6:00pm Concert Stage – Red Higgins & The Freedom Train until 8:00pm
8:15pm Fireworks
EXHIBITS
PTSD books / program info / exploring different helpful activities & interests
Steve Conto – “Final Bridge” project & WI Vietnam Memorial Wall display
WPT – “Face for Every Name” & founder, Bryce Kelley, presentation
Other exhibits honoring WI Vietnam KIA / MIAs
Agent Orange barrels for Vietnam veterans to sign
The Highground’s Big Map of the Vietnam War for Veterans and Gold Star families to sign
Vietnam War timeline exhibit
Display of US Flags
Volunteers reading the names of all WI KIA / MIAs in the Vietnam War – 9:30am – 11am
VVA #331 Trailered UH-1H Huey helicopter
BJ Prior – author / book signing “Behind My Wings” – veteran stories
Famous Kokosz Family Raffle / Silent Auction & Hot Dog Feed – 10am – 4pm
UH-1H Huey helicopter landing at 2pm (weather permitting)
