The Highground Veterans Memorial Holds Grand Opening for New Welcome Center

Friday, May 9th, 2025 -- 3:01 PM

The Highground proudly opened its doors to a brand-new Welcome Center on Friday, May 2, marking a significant milestone in its ongoing mission to honor veterans and provide a sanctuary for healing.

The grand opening welcomed hundreds of guests, including previous and current contributors, longtime supporters and distinguished guests. Among the attendees was Wisconsin Department of Administration Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld, who recognized the $800,000 grant awarded to The Highground to assist with construction expenses.

Representing the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) was Board of Veterans Affairs Member Christopher Hanson, reinforcing the WDVA’s continued support through grants that help fund The Highground's veterans’ programming.

The Highground Board of Directors took the opportunity to share their vision and the purpose of the new Welcome Center with the guests as they toured the new facility.

The tour featured the newly introduced Resilience Retreat Room, thoughtfully designed to offer veterans a secure and private space for personalized crisis intervention, therapeutic care and virtual medical consultations.

One of the most touching moments of the event unfolded with the arrival of unexpected guests, Rebecca Lasely and Cletus Swender, relatives of Jack Swender, a Marine who lost his life in Vietnam.

His family traveled all the way from Kansas to meet with Tom Miller, his fellow Marine. It was Tom’s heartfelt promise to Jack’s family to ensure his legacy was never forgotten that was the inspiration behind the creation of The Highground.

Though Tom Miller was unable to attend, his words were read aloud by Executive Director Chris Pettis in honor of Jack’s memory. The ceremonial ribbon cutting was performed by Rebecca Lasley and Cletus Swender in a moving gesture that symbolized their family’s connection to The Highground’s origins. Bonnie Pettis, donation coordinator, remarked, “It only seemed fitting.”

To express gratitude for the generous support behind The Highground Rising Expansion Project, attendees were invited to take home a custom “Thank you for helping us grow” poppy flower seed packet, a small but meaningful token of appreciation.

Plans are now underway to ensure the Welcome Center remains accessible to visitors, with hours set for seven days a week, from 10am-5pm during the summer months and 10am-4pm in the winter.

Currently, the Welcome Center is open Thursday through Sunday from 10am-5pm. Nestled in the heart of Wisconsin, The Highground has long stood as a place of reflection and remembrance, dedicated to honoring veterans and fostering a sense of community and healing.

The new Welcome Center represents an unwavering commitment to these values, serving as a state-of-the-art hub for education, events and engagement that will continue to inspire and uplift generations to come.

For current hours, upcoming events and more, visit their website or follow them on Facebook at Facebook.com/TheHighgroundVeteransMemorial.

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