The National Historic Landmarks program has announced its annual photo competition! The subject of the photograph must be a National Historic Landmark. The Milwaukee VA National Soldiers Home Historic District received this honor in 2011, making it a perfect landmark to feature in submissions! National Historic Landmarks are our country’s most exceptional historic properties. These are nationally significant historic places designated by the Secretary of the Interior because they possess exceptional value or quality in illustrating or interpreting the heritage of the United States. Today, fewer than 2,500 historic places bear this national distinction, with only 41 in Wisconsin. The contest
On June 2 and 3, Reclaiming Our Heritage (ROH) ROH is a free, family-friendly opportunity to explore the beautiful Soldiers Home grounds and is a great way to honor our veterans and learn about the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve our country. New this year, ROH is offering a special welcome area for veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation New Dawn. Veterans of these conflicts can visit their specific welcome area for: Information on VA benefits; A special gathering area for Iraq/Afghanistan vets and their families; Displays, including a glimpse of life in a Patrol Base, including uniforms, equipment and housing; A unique “Battle
Recently, DryHootch announced that it will be adding two new locations to serve Wisconsin veterans. Dryhootch is a nonprofit organization that was started in 2008 by a group of Vietnam veterans who understood the challenges of returning from service and reintegrating into civilian life. The organization started by selling coffee and in 2010, they found a permanent location for a coffee house at 1030 East Brady Street on Milwaukee’s east side. The venue provides a safe, sober, place for Veterans to congregate. In Madison, DryHootch has created the Veterans Welcome Resource Center in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs, The Gialamas Company, Edgewood College and the
As we continue to work with key stakeholders and veteran representatives to explore potential reuses for the Soldiers Home’s currently unoccupied buildings, we are working to create an inventory of the veterans services currently provided in southeastern Wisconsin and gauge interest in co-locating in the Soldiers Home District with other veterans organizations. In the coming days, we will be distributing a brief online questionnaire to local organizations that provide services to veterans. The surveys will be collected by April 30 and we will then work to compile the results and discuss next steps. If you have contact information for an organization that should be on our list, email Frank at
As we continue to welcome home veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, we are reminded of the critical role that medical, social and emotional services play in adjusting to civilian life after what has been, in many cases, multiple tours of duty. The need for healing, on many levels, has helped drive the effort to restore the Milwaukee VA Soldiers Home Historic District to the service of veterans. As we shared in our last newsletter, we have formed a Community Advisory Council for the Milwaukee VA Soldiers Home (CAC) to advocate for the protection, repair and rehabilitation of the Milwaukee VA Soldiers Home and identify a vision for the future use of the district’s historic buildings.
We are excited to share the latest edition of our e-newsletter and updates on our efforts to restore the Milwaukee VA Soldiers Home Historic District to the service of veterans. On behalf of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Milwaukee Preservation Alliance and the partners and stakeholders that are committed to the District, we thank you for your continued interest and support. In the April 2012 edition you’ll find the following features: A Community Advisory Council update from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Milwaukee Preservation Alliance Do you, or does an organization you belong to, provide services to veterans? Local Non Profit Expanding to Serve Mo
The emergency room at Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa hasn’t changed over the last three months, but trauma surgeon Dr. Lewis Somberg has. After spending the last 90 days as the lead surgeon for the 628th Forward Surgical Team in the Logar province of Afghanistan, the 54-year-old Somberg finds himself with a little less tolerance for some of the trauma patients who come into Froedtert’s emergency room. Click here to read the entire article from Milwaukee Business Journal.
