The Highground, a 140-acre veterans memorial park, located west of Neillsville, Wisconsin, had its genesis in a battle at Ky Phu, Vietnam on December 18, 1965. Tom Miller from Wisconsin and Jack Swender from California, were serving with the 2nd Bn./7th Marines. They were on patrol when they came under heavy attack by the Viet Cong. Tom and his partner, Jack, took cover in a small house in the hamlet. They managed to hold them off for 15 minutes before an explosion blew a wall apart, mortally wounding Swender and severely wounding Miller. Tom held Jack as he died and vowed not to let his friend’s death be forgotten.
Fast-forward 19 years to 1984. Tom Miller recruited several other Vietnam veterans to join him in creating a Wisconsin Vietnam Veterans Memorial. This is where Tom entered my life. A couple of friends talked me into attending an organizational meeting of a Madison chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America. Tom also attended that meeting. This big guy, with a black patch over one eye, wearing a cowboy hat, entered the room. We hit it off right away when we found out we were both self-employed graphic artists.
At the meeting, Tom told us about his idea for a memorial and was looking for volunteers to join him. There was a lot of interest, but few people wanted to get actively involved, including me.
In the following months, Tom and I got to be friends and he’d stop by my office and we’d talk business. One day he brought his new MAC computer with to show me. It was the first one I’d ever seen. He showed me a brochure about the memorial he wanted to build. Tom had designed it using the small computer. I was impressed.
One rainy day, Tom came into my office and said he wanted me to go with him to the Secretary of State’s office. He needed another person to sign incorporation papers for the memorial project. I protested, but he insisted it was only a formality so he could get the project rolling. Little did I know what a big commitment I was getting myself into. Neither of us had any idea at the time, what a huge project this “little” memorial would become!
Tom assembled a “working” Board of Directors and the project slowly started rolling. Most of us were Vietnam vets, but we also had a World War II and Korean vet.
In those early days most people wouldn’t give us the time of day, including veterans organizations. Few people expected us to succeed. One went so far as to tell me, “You Vietnam vets would screw up a two-car funeral. How did we think we could ever build a memorial?” When Tom tried to get publicity, one editor told him to forget about it, the wars been over for years. Fortunately, none of us listened to all the negatives and we forged ahead. Never tell a Vietnam vet they can’t do something.
Early on it was decided to change the direction of the project, from a Vietnam only memorial, to one that would include ALL veterans. No one would be excluded. We also changed the name from the Wisconsin Vietnam Veterans Memorial Project to The Highground. Today that little project has evolved into a beautiful, 140-acre veteran’s memorial park.
The Vietnam Veterans tribute, dedicated in 1988, is the centerpiece. It’s located at the point of the plaza, overlooking one-half million acres of spectacular Wisconsin woodland and glacial moraine. The bronze sculpture includes four life-size figures and was the first veteran’s tribute in the U. S. to include a woman in the statuary. Her poncho flows out from the back of the figures. Under it she carries the burden of the many Wisconsin servicemen killed in Vietnam. Their names are inscribed on the bundles of bamboo-shaped bronze rods that serve as wind chimes. It’s like their voices are still speaking to us in the wind.
Other memorials and tributes followed. In 1989, the MIA/POW earthen dove effigy mound was built and dedicated. 1990, saw the addition of the Gold Star Grove. Two timber frame shelters were also added in the lower park area. In 1992, The Nurse, in honor of all women who served, and the World War I Doughboy were dedicated. 1993 saw the addition of the World War II Veteran’s tribute. In 1995 the National Native American Vietnam Veterans tribute was dedicated. In 2008, the Korean Veteran’s tribute was added. True to our mission, all the tributes honor the veteran, not the war.
A four-mile hiking and nature trail has also been added, along with a timber-frame office/gift shop. A Meditation Garden is a recent addition. It’s a beautiful, peaceful park that draws thousands of visitors each year. It’s become a place of spiritual healing for thousands of veterans and their families. It became a reality thanks to private contributions and thousands of volunteer hours.
During this Veteran’s Day week, I wanted you to know that The Highground is a tribute to all veterans of all wars. If you haven’t experienced The Highground, put it on your list of places to visit. You’ll also see what a dedicated, determined group of people can accomplish, when they all work together toward a common goal.
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