The HighGround

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The HighGround

• Wisconsin Vietnam Veterans
• Memorial Project, Inc.
• Neillsville, Wisconsin

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Thank You!
The Highground is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit
organization that receives no on-going Federal,
State, or local government funding. We operate
on the generous support of volunteers and
contributors.
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The BeginningVietnam 1965

• December 18, 1965
• Tom Miller, 24, makes a promise to his friend
  22-year-old Jack Swender
• Recon by Miller

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1985--1st Bicycle Tour

• Tom rides 1,244 miles around Wisconsin
• 1,244
• The number of military
• personnel from Wisconsin
• killed or missing in action
• in Vietnam

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Mission Vision

• Mission to honor veterans and their families and
  to educate about the cost of things--the human
  cost

• Vision to honor human courage and sacrifice
  wherever it is displayed, without either denying
  or glorifying the pain and suffering of war and
  of life

• Focus Healing Education

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Missions Healing
More than one eagle gains his freedom. Rehabilitat
ed eagle released into its home
territory By Member of 101St Airborne Screaming
Eagles
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Missions Education
Clark County Veterans host area 5th graders.
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The Nurse
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National Native American Vietnam Veterans
Memorial
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Korean Tribute
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Meditation Garden

• Created and designed to offer healing to our
  monthly visitors from the VA Hospital PTSD group.
  The garden offers 4 elements essential for
  meditation
• Sound of running water
• Fragrance of flowering shrubs
• Songs of birds
• Glow of light and shadow cast along paths

The Garden welcomes everyone whose footsteps
guide them along its pathways and whose hearts
seek the sanctuary and promise of spiritual
renewal.
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WASP
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WWII Globe
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Wisconsin Counties United in Service

• Tribute to honor community support of veterans
  and active duty military
• Started in 2004, 71 of 72 counties represented
• Only one county left LaFayette

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Fragments
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Dove Effigy Mound
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Handicap Accessible Treehouse
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Developmental Forest Walking Tour
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Gold Star
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The Doughboy
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Liberty Bell
Sgt Major Duane Weyer, Mosinee
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Persian Gulf Tribute Committee

• Mission Statement
• To build with honor a tribute for all branches
  of Americas Military who served around the world
  beginning with Desert Storm, through multiple
  Middle East conflicts, while marching forward in
  the Global War on Terrorism. May we establish a
  place of hope so that we do not walk past you but
  with you. Let this site be an anchor for
  education and solace while securing in memory
  sacrifices made. With hope and prayer the Persian
  Gulf Tribute will provide a safe haven for all to
  reflect and to heal.

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Let Them Not Go In Silence

• Wisconsin Soldiers Killed in Iraq and Afghanistan
• Kirk Allen Straseskie Matthew E. Schram Dan H.
  Gabrielson Paul J. Sturino Rachel K. Bosveld
• Warren S. Hansen Jeremy L. Wolfe Eugene A. Uhl
  III Christopher J. Splinter Nicole M. Frye
• Bert Edward Hoyer John F. Hans Kurth Sean M.
  Schneider Jessie L. Thiry Michelle M. Witmer
• Michael A. McGlothin Ryan M. Jerabek Charles
  Kiser Stephen Martin Adrian Soltau
• Andrew Halverson Daniel R. Wyatt Shane K.
  ODonnell Robert P. Warns II Todd R. Cornell
• Brian P. Prening Isaiah R. Hunt Benjamin C.
  Edinger Ryan J. Cantafio Brent T. Vroman
• Richard D. Warner Todd Olson Travis M.
  Wichlicz Donald W. Eacho Andrew L. Bossert
• Mark A. Maida Joshua Michael Scott Eric J.
  Poelman John J. Mattek Jr. Charles Kaufman
• John Tollefson Ben Jansky Chad J. Simon Trevor
  J. Diesing Michael Wendling
• Andrew Wallace Matthew R. Kading Benjamin A.
  Smith Anthony Alexander Alex Gaunky
• Andy A. Stevens Adam J. VanAlstine Eric A.
  Palmisano Nathan J. Vacho Eric D. Clark
• Grant Allen Dampier Jamie Jaenke Stephen
  Castner Ryan Jopek Shaun A. Novak
• Kenneth Cross Robert J. Cook Kyle M. Hemauer Ryan
  J. Nass Nicholas R. Anderson
• Patrick L. Lybert Adam Servais Merideth
  Howard Luke J. Zimmerman Rhett W. Schiller
• Jesse D. Tillery Kevin M. Kryst Evan A.
  Bixler Joshua M. Schmitz Matthew T. Grimm
• Andrew G. Matus Jon B. St.John II Harry H.
  Timberman Robert J. Basham Nicholas Riehl
• Jesse B. Albrecht Tyler J. Kritz Matthew R.
  Zindars Derek A. Dobogai Rachael L. Hugo
• Anthony R. Wasielewski Louis A. Griese Tracy
  Alger James McDonald Jason Lemke

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2009 25th Annual Bicycle Tour

• Recreating the original route of 1244 miles
  bodies
• Add 1 mile for every KIA since Vietnam
• Total of over 1500 miles

Tom Kingsbury is a Vietnam veteran and has been a
participant in the annual Highground Bicycle Tour
for many years.
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The Route
July 31 Highground to AshlandAugust 1 Ashland to
New RichmondAugust 2 New Richmond to
GalesvilleAugust 3 Galesville to
PlattevilleAugust 4 Platteville to
BurlingtonAugust 5 Burlington to OmroAugust 6
Omro to AntigoAugust 7 Antigo to
RhinelanderAugust 8 Rhinelander to TomahAugust
9 Tomah to Highground
Celebration picnic on August 9 At 12 noon when
all 6 rides and Tom arrive at The Highground.
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The Highground would ask your help

• Greet Tom as he rides through your area showing
  support for our KIAs from Vietnam through Iraq
  and Afghanistan.
• Support the 25th Annual Bicycle Tour by
  presenting Tom with a donation for the Persian
  Gulf Tribute of 300.
• Please help us remember honor all veterans

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• The HighGround

a place for all of us.