Maintaining Our Memorial

Stoughton Veterans Memorial dedication (October 14, 2017)

Since the dedication of the Stoughton Veterans Memorial in October of 2017, improvements continue to be made and efforts to maintain this beautiful monument are ongoing.

Late last summer, an underground sprinkler system was installed; entryway pillars were put in place and trees were planted at the entrance to the parking lot.

This spring, the names of approximately 76 Stoughton area veterans will be added to the black granite walls. The parking lot will be resurfaced and restriped.  Other ongoing upkeep includes lawn maintenance, insurance, utilities, security cameras and replacing the eleven flags three times per year.

Projected maintenance costs for 2020 are just over $15,000.

Major contributors to help offset these costs are the Thrivent Financial "Raise The Flag" project and the Freedom Riders motorcycle run which will be held on Saturday, June 13.

If anyone wishes to contribute to the maintenance of this beautiful memorial, you can donate on our web site at: stoughtonveteransmemorial.org/donate

Or mail your donation to: Stoughton Veterans Memorial, P.O. Box 16, Stoughton, WI 53589

Don Helmke

 
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Don Helmke, a long-time Stoughton resident, American Legion member and a friend to all, passed away on November 23. Thanks to all who have shown their respects by donating to the Stoughton Veterans Memorial in his memory. If you would care to contribute, memorial donations can be made here at the SVM donation page.


"Farewell to Arms" Dinner

The steering committee which formed in 2014 to plan and build the Stoughton Veterans Memorial has now become the Board of Directors. The original Steering Committee gathered on Tuesday, July 16 for a dinner at Legion Post 59.

At this dinner, fellow members of the Stoughton Area Veterans Memorial Park Steering Committee recognized  Duane Broughton for his leadership in constructing the Veterans Memorial at 1731 Country Club Road. Broughton was presented a walnut plaque inscribed with the names of his fellow committee members.

Broughton with plaque

Broughton was selected to be the General Chairman in November of 2014 when the committee was first formed and has been the leader since that time. Groundbreaking for the memorial took place in September of 2015 and the park was dedicated on October 14, 2017.

This was a surprise honor for Duane. From his thank-you message to the group:

I was very lucky to be a part of a really good team. If I did anything right, it was associating myself with the most outstanding group of people from the Stoughton area.

Steering Committee member, Bud Erickson, gave opening remarks and presented the plaque.

The original SAVMP Steering Committee. Seated left to right: Sonny Swangstu, Jim Oler, Dave Stolen, Bud Erickson, Dennis Derke. Standing left to right: Vic Duesel, Randy Robertson, Roger Nitzsche, Duane Broughton, Roger Kleven, Basil Sadler.

Duane Broughton and Bud Erickson

photos: Tim Erickson