Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI

November 19, 2008, Front Page

Transcribed by Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Crowd attends Veterans Day Ceremony despite snowy weather

The Neillsville Color Guard prepares to present Colors during a snowy and cold Veterans Day Celebration held at The Highground Tuesday, Nov. 11.  Wisconsin National Guard Senior Advisor Lieutenant Colonel Mark Rodwell spoke at the event. (Photo by Peter Spicer/Clark County Press)

By Peter Spicer

Snow and cold temperatures didn’t deter attendees from gathering at The Highground for a Veterans Day Celebration held Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008.

The ceremony began with the Neillsville Color Guard presenting Colors. Sarah Foxvog, The Highground volunteer, led the Pledge of Allegiance; the “Star Spangled Banner” followed.

The Highground Volunteer General Manager Kirk Rodman welcomed attendees to the ceremony and introduced the guest speaker, Wisconsin National Guard Senior Advisor Lieutenant Colonel Mark Rodwell.

Rodwell spoke about the importance of a veteran’s family and thanked Wisconsin veterans for their service.

John and Mary Lou Hodgeson read names of Korea MIAs from Wisconsin.

Names of Wisconsin Vietnam MIAs, U. S. Desert Storm MIAs and Wisconsin Iraq and Afghanistan KIAs were also read.

The Colors were retired; attendees then gathered in a talking circle where each individual shared his or her thoughts while holding a microphone and a vial of earth from an October Legacy Stone placement.

Many veterans and veterans’ families attended the celebration as well as Little Miss Neillsville Jocelyn Thur and Miss Neillsville Morgan Gerlach.

Attendees greeted each other to close the circle and then enjoyed coffee, cider and cookies indoors after the braving the weather conditions.

“The weather was ugly,” admitted Rodman, who was impressed by those attending, all of whom wanted to be there and stayed until the ceremony’s end.

Rodman is amazed each year by how many “new faces” show up at The Highground from all over the area to attend the Veterans Day Celebration.

Each individual sharing thoughts, about someone else and the reading of KIA and MIA names make the celebration special, said Rodman.

“It’s a great healing time,” concluded Rodman.