Contribute - The Highground Veterans Memorial

It is true we, as stewards of The Highground, are always asking for donations. It is sometimes easy for those of us who come here daily to forget the real reason, so we imagine it is easy from a distance to forget why The Highground needs the donations. Fortunately, the spirit of The Highground has its own way of reminding us about what is important. Here is a very short set of true stories about the healing and education that occurs on The Highground with every visit.

Recently, a man drove onto the plaza. He sat for a moment looking toward the point. The next time I saw him, he was slowly walking from tribute to tribute. A few minutes later he came into the building and said, "This is the first time I have been here, why do I feel this way?" Tears spilled from his eyes and fell down his cheeks. He then shared his personal story of pain and sorrow with us. For him healing had begun here.

Within a week of this experience, a man walked into the shop with his son and grandson. He spent some time going through our Registry books. When asked if we could help him, he replied that his family had placed a Legacy Stone for one of their members--an older veteran. Since the placement of this veteran's Legacy Stone, the veteran had begun to talk about his experiences in WWII. It seemed to be a relief to the veteran and an unexpected gift for the family. This man wanted to record the stories and place them in the Registry.

There was a teenager that came with her school group to tour The Highground and found her grandfather's Legacy Stone. She was so excited because she had not known about the Stone. We copied the Registry material, and she took it home to her mother.

If you wonder what do you, the donor, get from your contribution, the answer lies in all the stories that happen here. It is your contributions that keep The Highground open and allow people to come here for healing and education. We get to open the door for others and to reconnect with our inner spirit.

For those of you who have employers dedicated to the well being of our community and your personal interests through matching funds or volunteer programs, please consider using the following information to submit applications for matching funds:

Highground Wish List

Persian Gulf Tribute Wishlist

> Volunteers Needed

Greeters to work 5 hours per month meeting visitors from April to November.

> Donations for Development Forest & Trails

These items and the estimated costs change often. We thank all who keep track of our wish list and help us get the items we need to meet the maintenance and operating demands of the park.

> Specific Items Needed

-Persian Gulf Tribute grass preparation: $1360

-Irrigation System for Learning Center: $5400 Thanks for $2465 so far

-Camera: $400

-100 Straw bales: $300 Thanks for $130 so far

-Repair Plaza walls: $1876

-Persian Gulf Tribute Jersey Barriers: 18 @ $4000/ea Thanks for 3 so far

-Plant Water sprayer funds: $312

-Concrete for four different projects: $1500 (WWII/Korean

Tribute/sidewalk/Meditation Garden benches)

-Pathway Bollards to Persian Gulf Tribute:10 @ $1000/ea Thanks for 2 so far

-Design to cover the well in the Library parking lot: priceless

-Learning Center totes/portfolio storage: Thanks

-Registry Honor Books upgrade: $350; Thanks for $250 so far

-Vacuum Cleaner: Thanks

-Bench upgrade: 20 @ $80/each Thanks for 16 so far

-Plaza Parking lot paving: $18,000/$100 per share

-Mule Snow Blade: $2250

-Weed trimmer: Thanks

-Corduroy Trail Work Gravel: 12 loads @ $151 per load

-15 Ballasts for Walkway Light Upgrade: $160 each

-Electrical Box for Learning Center Garage: $545 Thanks for $100 so far

-Learning Center Track Lights for Displays 22@ $56 each; Thanks for 12 so far

-Blacktop for paving Learning Center lot: $9140

-Learning Center Garage Heaters: 2 @ $250

-Endowment Fund Givers

-Memorials: Honor your loved ones

-Walk behind brush mower for trails: $2800

-Preparation work for the upper parking lot: $9800: Thanks for $6000 so far

-Learning Center Exhibit fund: Thanks for $8350 so far

-School transportation fund: Thanks for @200 so far

-Additional books for PTSD: Thanks

-Learning Center frames: Thanks

-Learning Center Library Computers: $1600

-New tires for mule: $450

-Board Members: 2 more needed: priceless

-Learning Center storage shelving: $680

Looking for those serving in the military (or family members) that have served active duty since 1990. The Persian Gulf Committee wants interested parties to join their committee to make the Persian Gulf Tribute a reality at The Highground. A design has been chosen and now the details are being gathered. Can you help? Will you help? Please contact Nancy Olson at nanolsn114@hotmail.com or call The Highground at 715-743-4224.

-Jersey Barriers: 16 @ $4,000/each Thanks for 1 so far

-Texas Barrier: $30,000

-Honor Stones: 930 @ $550/each

-Benches: 18 @ $3,000/each Thanks for 5 so far

-Battlefield Cross: 1 @ $20,000

-3 figure statue w/o base: $125,000

-Single figure statue: 2 @ $100,000/each

Learning Center Exhibit Wishlist

The Learning Center has an opportunity to obtain some fascinating exhibits for 2013. However, these exhibits come with a price tag that The Highground currently does not have a budget for. Can you help? Send a donation for this new fund today and watch for upcoming exhibits thanks to YOU!

-First Warrior Exhibit (Native American): Thanks

-Vietnam Graffiti Exhibit: $5,000 Thanks for $1225 so far

-The Wall That Heals for 2014: $6,000 Thanks for $3000 so far

-Ghost Army (WWII): Thanks—Paid in full

-Living Thru the Forgotten War Exhibit (Korea): $5,000

-Civil War Sesquicentennial: $250