Over 800 Students Attend The Highground Veterans Memorial’s Education Days

Monday, October 14th, 2024 -- 4:00 PM

Over 800 Central Wisconsin students from 15 schools plus several homeschooling families from across the state traveled to The Highground for Education Days October 1-4.

This annual event invites students and the public to attend to learn more about the history and sacrifices of our military members and families, details about The Highground and special stories about global cultures that have been affected by war.

Education Days requires the dedication of a team of volunteer presenters and staff members from The Highground. During the October 1 and 2 “5th Grade Days” part of Education Days, fifth graders received a presentation at each of The Highground tributes.

The presenters gave their 10-minute talks continuously throughout the day as groups of approximately 25 students rotated to each of the tributes. Local presenters were Mary Cichosz, Scott Schultz, Henry Smith, Pete Kern, Jim Henchen, Skip Klabon, Gary Weirauch, Billy Buss, Mike Kesling, Heidi Bower and Theresa Hebert.

Fifth grade students attended from these schools: Loyal, Thorp, Stanley-Boyd, Maple Grove (WI), Athens, Colby, Red Creek (Black River Falls), Lincoln (Alma Center, Merrillan, Humbird), Auburndale, Neillsville, Owen-Withee, Holy Rosary, St Mary’s (Marathon), St Anthony’s (Loyal), Lake Holcombe and Gilmanton.

There were also over 80 homeschooled students that attended the 5th Grade Days portion of Education Days. Many schools make The Highground Education Days an annual part of their calendar.

One teacher shared, “This has been a great event, we look forward to coming every year!” The Daughters of the American Revolution Ah-Da-Wah-Gam Chapter were present for both days of the 5th Grade Days portion to give presentations on the history of the U.S. flag and perform a flag retirement ceremony.

Education Days on Friday, October 4 was geared toward high school students and adults. The Highground welcomed high school students from Neillsville and adult visitors. Presenters who gave 30-minute presentations throughout the day were:

• Skip Klabon with a slide presentation about his service in-country during the Vietnam War;
• Command Historian of the 88th Readiness Division at Fort Mc Coy Ward Zischke and Dave Harris with a presentation on the Korean War that included a great deal of artifacts;
• Troy Buddenhagen who gave a presentation on D-Day during WWII;
• Sarwat Najib who presented on her experience as an Afghanistan woman who had to leave Afghanistan as a refugee after the fall of Kabul, and the realities of current life in Afghanistan for women;
• Fred Beseler told the exciting history of the WWII Women Air Force Service Pilots (the WASPs);
• And Gary Foster presented on the weaponry involved in WWI.

Education Days are made possible because of the dedication of volunteers, presenters and donations of financial support. The 2024 Education Days event was sponsored by John and Donna Koutre and the Optimist Club of Neillsville.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.