Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI

August 1, 2007, Front Page

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.

Tribute to Korean War vets made memorable

By Mick Kuzjak

A special day to recognize the soldiers of the ?Forgotten War? was one to be remembered, as an estimated 1,000 visitors came to The Highground Veterans Memorial Park on Saturday for the dedication of the Korean War Tribute.

From the moment of the helicopter fly-over signaling the start of the ceremonies, those at The Highground, many of them Korean War veterans, were to witness something special that day.

In the beautiful sunny calm of a Saturday morning, they watched as a long line of Color Guard units and Rifle Squads from American Legion and VFW posts from around the state, wound its way into position in front of the memorial site of white cement base, green grass and the draped statues to be officially unveiled.

In a bright, new day of recognition for Korean War veterans last Saturday at The Highground, many came from far and wide to honor the soldiers who fought in the so-called ?Forgotten War,? including the Rhythm of the River Chorus, from Black River Falls, singing the National anthem and a VFW Color Guard from Stanley, standing in salute with the American flag.

Kirk Rodman, volunteer general manager of The Highground, spoke of what was behind that splendid scene at the veterans memorial park that day.  ?It?s about what you don?t see,? he said. Rodman recounted the commitment and effort, as well as the emotions, of the 22 members of the Korean Tribute Committee that went into the four long years of planning the memorial.

In recalling the support for the project, Rodman did not forget the special efforts of construction contractors, the labors of volunteers and the generous contributors to the $190,000 project.  ?You know who you are. We thank you for what you do at The Highground,? Rodman said.

Michael Martino, the designer and sculptor of the memorial site, told those who made the special trip to The Highground that day that he would be talking about what they would see, once the central figures, draped in anonymous blue, were unveiled.

The three bronze figures had names telling of the adverse conditions endured by the American soldiers who fought in the war.  ?Cold,? said Martino, represents the Korean War soldier, numb and tired, yet constantly vigilant as he holds a pair of binoculars.

?Thirst,? in the form of a soldier with an empty canteen in hand, symbolizes the severe heat.  Yet, the soldier must wear a flak jacket as protection against the constant gunfire, Martino said.

?Rain? is a soldier, up to his knees in mud, helping a wounded comrade to safety.  An adjacent water fountain symbolizes the rain.

?In designing this memorial,? Martino said in closing, ?I wanted to continue The Highground tradition of creating an environment where people can remember, honor and heal.?

Gary Corey, one of the Korean War Committee members, christened the tribute, sprinkling a grass-covered embankment with earth brought to the veterans? park from Korea.

Then, Corey and the other committee members unveiled; and then read, a series of plaques surrounding the monument telling the story of the Korean War.

The stark, forlorn figures, representing the quiet suffering and solitude of the soldiers during the Korean War, in a monument unveiled by Kirk Rodman (left), Highground volunteer manager, and sculptor Michael Martino (right).

Among the speakers, Korean War veteran Ben Anderson expressed the feeling of frustration, one likely shared by his fellow veterans of the ?Forgotten War.?

He spoke emotionally of the huge scale of human sacrifice, of 54,000 lives lost in three years.  ?And they forgot it?? he asked.

?A police action? No. It was a war, and yet they forgot us,? he said.

?The real heroes,? Anderson said, ?didn?t come home.?

Gary Weirauch, past commander of the Loyal American Legion, remembered that 132,000 Wisconsin men and women served in the Korean War.

In contrast to the ongoing Iraq War, Weirauch pointed out, those American soldiers who died in combat in Korea were not recognized on TV news shows on a daily basis.  Nowhere were their names read aloud, he said.

?It?s time we paid you the proper tribute,? Weirauch said, to the applause of those at The Highground that day.

Weirauch saved his last words for Korean War veterans: ?May you nevermore be forgotten,? he said.

Gary Weirauch, past commander of the Loyal American Legion

February 7, 2007, Page 4

Local Lions give to Highground Korean Tribute

Tim Brekke (left), of Neillsville Lions Club, recently presented Kirk Rodman of The Highground a check for $1,000 to sponsor the new Korean Tribute.  The Korean Tribute will be dedicated on Saturday, July 28, 2007 at 10 a.m.  (Contributed photo)