Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Rodman, Shedivy, Olm, Swett
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 5/24/2017
Marshfield Masonic Lodge (Support to Highground Welcome Center - 2017)
The Highground volunteer general manager Kirk Rodman (third from left) accepts a $1,500 donation from Marshfield Masonic Lodge #224 to support the proposed Welcome Center at The Highground Veterans Memorial Park. Presenting the check are Masonic Lodge representatives (left to right) David Shedivy, Ken Olm, and Dean Swett. (Contributed Photo)
Marshfield Masonic Lodge #224 recently presented a generous donation of $1,500 to Kirk Rodman, The Highground volunteer general manager, to help bring a new facility to The Highground Veterans Park.
The proposed Welcome Center will allow visitors to experience The Highground’s peace and “see” the park regardless of the weather. Many tours have been cancelled or events postponed with the inclement weather Wisconsin can experience. This facility will alleviate the weather factor.
In addition to tours and student events, the building will allow for a private office for the Vet Center Counselor to provide services available to veterans and their families. A Vet Center Counseling program has been at The Highground since March 2015 helping veterans and veterans’ families work through post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) issues.
“This is a much-needed service for veterans and it brings additional visitors to our area for healing and education from outside the Clark County area,” Rodman said.
“Each of the Welcome Center wings will provide flexibility to work with our core of volunteers or show permanent exhibits of The Highground with the POW Tower to remind us of where we have been and remember those that suffered for our freedoms.”
The Highground Board of Directors invites others to partner with them on the Welcome Center project, as the Marshfield Masonic Lodge has done.
“The Highground Veterans Memorial Park is a place for all of us,” Rodman said. “We thank the Masons for healing The Highground continue its mission of healing and education.”
The Marshfield Masonic Lodge #224 donation also entitles a representative to be invited to the annual Friends of The Highground dinner held every February. This dinner is a way of recognizing those generous donors who support The Highground with cumulative annual donations in excess of $1,000.
