On January 1^st, 2008 we raised the flags with a ceremony to commemorate the branches of service.  We began with Corinne and Dan Johnson raising the American Flag, donated in memory of Corinne’s father Earl Barncard Jr.

The POW/MIA flag pole was donated by the Gogebic Range Vietnam Veterans of America  Raising the flag was Dave Gentile.  The Army flag pole was donated by the American Legion Auxiliary.  Raising the flag was Betty Snyder.  The Marine Corps flag pole was donated by Kat Petit, Jim Way and Jack Adler.  Raising the flag were Marines:  Mike and Mitch Kowaleski.  The Navy flag pole was donated by Dan and Joann Waters, who also raised the flag.  The Air Force flag pole was donated in honor of Stanley Kras  by his family.  Raising the flag was Stanley’s daughter, Kay Nilsson.  The Coast Guard flag pole was donated by the Mercer Area VFW Post 95/36.  Raising the flag was John Nurmi.  Following the flag raising, we moved to the Community Center for refreshments.

Donors:

Willi & Becky Armstrong

Corinne and Dan Johnson

Steve Botes  Architect

Nothern Lakes Concrete products

Altman Excavating

R & S Concrete Pumping

Mercer Lionesses

Pierce Century 21 Reality

Town of Mercer

Jack Schuett

Mercer Lumber

Whiskey Jack's Golf Outing

C.B. Masonry, Inc.

Williams Electric

Steve Jacobs

Joe's Excavating

American Legion Auxilary

Goegebic Range Vietnam Veterans

Mercer Area VFW Post 95/36

Stanley Kras Family

Daniel and Joann Waters

Franklin and Joyce Stvan

Jack Adler, Jimmy Way, Kat Petit

Courtney Miller Memorial Fund

Rita Nurmi Memorial Fund

Down To Earth

 Northern Lakes Concrete and  R & S Pumping pouring concrete for footings at the Memorial.  Volunteers from the cummunity help with the labor. (2007)

 Our History

     In March of 2003, Operation Iraqi Freedom began. Before long we had 11 of our young people either serving in or heading to Iraq. A group of parents and community members got together to support our troops. We were sending boxes of supplies and letters of support, trying to do everything we could on the home front to let our troops know that we were backing them a hundred per cent.

     In February of 2003, the parent support group, which was meeting quite regularly, decided we needed to do more. We decided we wanted a Memorial to honor all our veterans. Some of our parents are veterans, with their parents being veterans and we decided they should all be honored. Some served in foreign lands, some served here in this country but they all were ready to make the ultimate sacrifice should our country send them to war. We wanted this to be a Memorial to all veterans, not to any war.

     During March we went to all the local organizations and groups to see if we could muster up support for our plans. Support was overwhelming. On April 7th, 2003 we approached the Town Board, who unanimously approved our project.

     It took all that summer to get permits from Wisconsin DOT and to start fund raising. We also re-organized with other community groups to form the Mercer Veterans Memorial Park.

     On Armed Forces Day of May, 2004 we broke ground to begin construction. The park has been built with generous donations and volunteered labor from the community and our friends. In 2006 we poured the footings and pedestals, and raised the American Flag. Winter put a stop to any more work until spring of 2007.

     When the snow melted in 2007 we were ready to start the construction. C.B. Masonry, Inc. started the construction of the walls, donating their time. Also the service flag poles went in just as the first snows started to fall. In spring of 2008 we started preparing for the bricks to be laid. We are going to have our dedication on May 16, 2009.

Please Join Us

We  are parents, veterans, family, friends and anyone who supports our Veterans that have served this nation.

Membership is open to anyone who is supportive of our Veterans.   Annual membership dues are $20 per person.  Meetings are the third Tuesday of the month at 7PM at the Mercer Public Library.  Everyone is welcome to join or attend our meetings.

Officers:

President:  Marge Pemble

Vice President:  Mike Rosak

Secretary:  Laura Gross

Treasurer:  Lisa Heberling

Construction Chairman: 

Terry Pemble