To see more, go to the Facebook page The Flag Memorial.....

Fluttering Flags

After the recent losses in Afghanistan its appropriate to take a moment to reflect on what is going on in 30 more American homes this week. 30 more empty places at family dinners, many more children without their father (I haven't heard of any female service people lost in this incident), parents without a child, siblings missing their best friend. Although I don't believe any Wisconsin heroes were lost in the helicopter crash, families from Hawaii to Delaware are reeling this week - and forever.

Each time another flag is added, another plaque has to be manufactured, my heart sinks. Every time I drive through the rows when the flags are being put in place for holidays, I study the names of the various plaques, think about the heroes' families and say a silent prayer.

Ye Old School Helps theflagmemorial

Ye Old School Shoppe Helps Another Group
Pictured is Volunteer Tim Bossert and his son Reese putting up a new name plaque beneath Brother and Uncle Andy’s flag at the Memorial to Wisconsin’s Fallen Heroes on county Highway O between Cochrane and Buffalo City. Others helping that day were Dick Brommerich, Pat Leahy, Al Farner, and Gary Krause.
The steel material for the plaques was donated by Cooper Industries of Waukesha Wisconsin.
Fred and Brenda Neitzel and their employees used their shop equipment to cut names, rank, branch of service, and date of death into the stainless steel plaques that honor Wisconsin’s fallen heroes who died in the Pentagon, Iraq, Afghanistan..
Ye Old School Shoppe provided the funds to complete the plaques with a long lasting powder coating finish.
Thanks to the all for helping make the memorial to our heroes even more impressive. Stop at theflagmemorial and check the new plaque additions.

Bike Rider For Fallen Heros

On August 2nd, Tom Kingsbury stopped at the flag memorial in Cochrane on his ride across Wisconsin, honoring Wisconsin heros killed in wars from Viet Nam through the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The flag memorial was the only site of its kind in Wisconsin where a plaque of recognition and flag were presented.



Some of the people awaiting Tom's appearance.

Fred Neitzel made the Iwo Jima replica - here it is mounted on top of the Neitzel's Ranger as Brenda Neitzel arrives for the ceremony.

Waiting for Tom Kingsbury to arrive.

Tom arriving at the flag memorial site.

New Flags for Memorial Day 2009

Thanks Dan Jacquart, Kevin Mack and Dick Brommerich.

Gold Star Mother

Diane Bossert, mother of Andy Bossert, visits the Flag Memorial and offers encouragement.

What We're All About

The flag memorial is located on Highway 00 between Cochrane and Buffalo City, Wisconsin. About June 30, 2005, grave size; 12 inch by 18 inch, American flags were attached to Fred Neitzel’s elk enclosure honoring each of the men and women from Wisconsin who died in Iraq and Afghanistan. The 46 flags were intended to be a Fourth of July memorial. Because they were well received the flags remained in place through the summer. They remained flying until Veterans Day.
On Veterans Day the small flags were replaced by 3 foot by 5 foot American flags attached to 7 foot flag poles.
A flag is added whenever another hero from Wisconsin dies. Because most soldiers, Marines, and Airmen have died when the flags are not out on display, a single flag is therefore flown until the hero’s funeral. As of July 1, 2008 there are 11 flags honoring the Wisconsin men and one woman who have died in Afghanistan. There are 90 flags honoring the Women and Men who have died in Iraq.
Six of the flag holders are painted pink to honor the six female Wisconsin soldiers who have died in Iraq, and one in Afghanistan. This is a large percentage because only one American female died in combat in WWII. Although 7 American women died in Vietnam none were combat fatalities. Six of the flag holders have Red Arrows painted on them honoring the men from the 127th and 128th Infantry, which are local units. The 128th was my outfit in the late 60’s. One of the flag holders is painted Black, White, and Red honoring Andy Bossert a graduate of CFC. (The whole project came to fruition in order to honor Andy.) Each flag holder is accompanied by a placard that includes the persons name and date of death. The birth date is included if known. Birth dates will be added when found.
The flags are flown on National Holidays. The flags are put in place a few days prior to and remain a few days after each holiday. As you might have guessed Mothers and Fathers Day are considered holidays at the flag memorial.
Each flag last about 2 years. We will be starting our third set of flags soon.

Orlin Brommer
PO Box 333Cochrane WI 54622 theflagmemorial@yahoo.com