Memorial Design Purpose & Features
The Mission of The Wilderness Veterans Flame Foundation (WVMFF)
The Wilderness Veterans Memorial Flame Foundation embraces the essence of PATRIOTISM by garnering volunteer and financial support to erect and perpetually maintain a unique and notable veterans memorial and to provide a place for participation and education in veterans service related activities. Located in Wisconsin's peaceful Northwoods, it will be a fitting place to honor the men and women who have selflessly dedicated themselves for the freedom of all citizens of the United States of America.
Design Purpose
The purpose of the memorial is to combine recognition of uniformed service of ALL veterans along with defining the significant extent of their service during the history of our Nation. In most cases a veteran wore but one uniform of a particular branch of the U.S. military. Most veterans have a deep sense of loyalty for "their" branch. The Memorial's purpose is also to honor the individual branches. There have been millions of veterans throughout our Country's history, and is often the case, only a few faces are remembered by each of us. Therefore an additional goal of the design is to put a personal face on the Memorial.
The Wilderness Veterans Memorial has three purposes:
- Recognition of all six branches of military service
- Summarization of all historical conflicts in which our country has participated
- Enshrinement of individual service men and women
Design Features
The peninsula on which the memorial is located juts out into a small lake, surrounded by a forested community park. It is a peaceful, pristine northwoods setting.
Several granite monuments summarizing the individual conflicts over the last 250 years of United States history are located along the walkway. Visitors approaching the center of the memorial will walk past the most recent conflicts first, coming finally to the Revolutionary War monument.
When entering the center of the Memorial, visitors will walk into an inner space surrounded by a landscaped berm. At the center top of the berm is the U.S. flag. In an arc surrounding the U.S. flag are the six branch military service flags as well as the POW/MIA flag and the Wisconsin flag. A visitor on a clear night will see the North Star glittering above the American flag.
At the foot of the U.S. flag stands a granite spire with an eternal flame glowing at its top. The flame is the Memorial's symbol to remind visitors to always HONOR and REMEMBER our veterans. On either side of the spire are granite plaques bearing the names of veterans who have been identified by donors for recognition. At the foot of the spire is bench to provide a place of rest and contemplation. Also at the foot of each of the branch service flags is a bench, each engraved with the emblem of the associated service.
Underwriting
Several monuments are still awaiting donor funding, providing an opportunity to honor or memorialize a veteran. Information regarding the donor or honoree may be noted on the underwriters monument. The underwriters monument has been erected prominently at the edge of the Memorial site. For more information regarding availability and other considerations, please contact the Wilderness Veterans Memorial Flame Foundation. To make a donation now, please select Donate.