The Green County Veterans Memorial Park Board is proud to announce that we are entering a new phase in the Veterans Park development. Due to a significant gift from the estate of Forrest and Alice Ladwig, we have set up an Endowment Fund to care for the Park in perpetuity. We want to thank the many Board members over the years that helped make the park the treasure it is today. We also want to thank the many donors that donated money and their time to the Veterans Park. I want to share with you a short synopsis of what happened over the years, what we are doing today and our future plans. 

1999 — a M60 tank was dedicated to honor all Veterans of Green County. At that time the Veterans Park was located near the Green County Ag Building on 6th St in Monroe. Plans were being made to erect a flagpole and lighting. 

2004 — Flagpole was ordered, received, and dedicated. A Helicopter committee was formed. The Green County Board of Supervisors made a formal approval of the site as Green County Veterans Park.

2005 — Because a County space needs study, the Green County Board of Supervisors suggested the Veterans Park be moved to Pleasant View Park.

2009 — Ron Spielman worked with Mike Doyle and the Green County Board to grant an easement for the development of a Veterans Memorial Park at the Pleasant View Park. Todd Haase Surveying donated his time to survey the park and define the boundaries of the easement. Junior Robertson and Jim Bartelt, with the assistance of the Green County Highway Department, moved the Tank to the Pleasant View site.  

2010 — Alex Engel started an Eagle Scout project to place an US Flagpole at the site. This year was the beginning of a relationship with the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin (CFSW) to handle all funds in a 501c3 tax deductibility fashion. This relationship continues today as the CFSW will also handle the Endowment Fund. This started a concentrated fund-raising effort. Jeff Voegeli Landscaping Co did the landscaping, and this relationship continues today with Jeff donating much time. PDC (Precision Drive and Control) installed lighting and started their in-kind donations to the Park that continues as well. Bylaws, Articles of Incorporation and a Conflict-of-Interest Policy were all adopted. We started to gather names for the eventual Wall of Honor.   

2012 — The Military Service and POW/MIA flagpoles were ordered. An Entrance Marker was ordered and the concrete/brick walkway was initiated. The bench design was finalized. 

2013 — Remaining flagpoles, entrance marker and walkway were completed

2014 — The first benches were installed. The first War Era plaques were installed, the stands were made by Fritz Wenger and Production Machining /Grinding. Informational signs on Hwy 81 were installed to help people locate our Park. Colony Brands started their generous donations to the Park. The Battle Cross (Fallen Soldier Memorial) was erected.  

2015 — A helicopter was purchased and the transported from Connecticut. Planning started on the building to house the Wall of Honor and the collection of names intensified.

2016 — The helicopter was refurbished, installed, and dedicated. The planning for the Star of Honor started.

2017 — The Hall of Honor to house the Wall of Honor was built and we installed security cameras.  

2018 — Names were started on the Wall of Honor.

2019 — The Wall of Honor in the Hall of Honor was dedicated.  The Desert Shield/Storm and Persian War plaques completed the War Era Plaques.  

2020 — The Star of Honor, the donor plaques, the Navy anchor memorial, and last bench were dedicated.

Over the years we were fortunate to have many businesses and individuals donate money and in-kind services. All the accomplishments at the Park are due to these many donations. We ran many fund-raisers such as Pizza Hut, Culvers, Papa Murphys, Dinner/Dance, and Bake Sales.

Today, we have plans to: 

●  Erect a sign to help visitors find our Park.

●  Refurbish and paint the Tank.

●  Replace the pedestal of the Battle Cross.

●  Add more names to the wall of Honor.

●  Update the website.

●  Install a picnic table with benches on a pad.

●  Fix concrete on walkway.  

We are now working with Monroe Hospice, Green Co Humane Society and Pleasant View Park to build walkways to connect us all together. We are still collecting names, so please check our Wall of Honor and inform us if we are missing someone.

Due to the significant gift from Forrest and Alice Ludwig, we can finish our current projects and set up an endowment Fund at the CFSW. 

We are still in need of donations to build our Endowment Fund. The Endowment Fund will be used to pay electricity, replace flags and any general maintenance to the Park Checks should be made out to — Green County Veterans Park and mailed to Community Foundation PO Box 733 Monroe WI 53566.

— Bill Hustad of New Glarus is a board member of the Green County Veterans Memorial Park. He can be reached at 608-576-3025 or wfhus1@tds.net. Other board members include Jackie Hustad, Larry Ayres, Karen Ayres, Alex Olson, Donna Douglas and Ed Andreas.