2018 Past Events
Thursday, July 26 at 6:30 pm The Dwight Foster Public Library . Presenter: Karen Duvalle of the Manitowoc Maritime Museum. Topic: World War II submarines built in the Manitowoc shipyard. The submarine USS Cobia currently dry docked at the Museum. The submarine USS Lagarto was built in Manitowoc, sunk in the Pacific during WW II, with the wreck discovered in 2005. There were 68 guests in attendance. After the Q&A session, many of the guests requested another presentation about submarines.
Thursday, October 18 at 6:30 pm at the Dwight Foster Public Library. Presenter: Kent Rice of the Stars & Stripes Honor Flight Board of Directors. Topic: Tour of a day’s journey to Washington, DC visiting War Memorials and Arlington Cemetery. Beginning with the arrival at the Milwaukee Mitchell Airport through the landing in Washington DC, the Memorials visited, the return flight and the homecoming back in Milwaukee. There were 52 guests in attendance. After the presentation, WWII and Korean Veterans were recruited for future Honor Flights.
Friday, December 7 at 6 pm at the Dwight Foster Public Library. Presenter: Mark Finnegan CEO and Co-Founder of VetsRoll, Inc. Topic: VetsRoll Washington, DC Veterans Trip/Pearl Harbor Attack/Iwo Jima and Okinawa Kamikaze Attacks. United States Navy Veteran Mr. Stan Van Hoose shared his experiences at Pearl Harbor aboard the USS Maryland on December 7th, 1941 and United States Navy Veteran Mr. George Olson shared his experiences at Iwo Jima and Okinawa aboard the USS Twiggs during the Kamikaze Attacks. There were 83 guests in attendance. Many of the guests participated in the Q&A Session expressing interest in attending again.
Past 2019 Events
Saturday, March 16 at 1 pm at The Dwight Foster Public Library (Originally scheduled for Thursday January 31st. Cancelled due to inclement weather). Presenter: United States Marine Corps Vietnam Veteran Tom Roloff. Topic: United States Army General George Armstrong Custer‘s story and the events leading to his demise at The Battle of Little Big Horn. Of interest to adults and students grades 5 and above. There were 28 guests in attendance. More were expected at the original scheduled date. Those who attended thought it was very educational in regards to American and United States History.
Thursday, May 23 at 6:30 pm at The Dwight Foster Public Library. Presenter: Professor Richard Carlton Haney; UW-Madison Ph.D. in History, West Point Post-Ph.D. in Military History Program, United States Army National Security Seminar at Carlisle Barracks. He also authored a book entitled, “When Is Daddy Coming Home? (An American Family During World War II).” Topic: Through his father’s letters, he reveals the war’s effect on a man who fought in the Battle of the Bulge with the 17th Airborne but wanted nothing more than to return home, a man who expressed the feelings of thousands when he wrote to his wife, “I’ve seen and been through a lot but want to forget it all as soon as I can.” There were 21 guests in attendance due short notice of presentation. Everyone in attendance, including former UW-Whitewater Students, were deeply moved by his story and his book.
Monday November 4 at 4:30pm: The American Legion Post #166. Presenter: Teen Day Radio. Topic: Veterans Day Tribute Reception/Broadcast. Guest Interviews: Mr. Matthew Bills, U.S. Navy Veteran, Mr. Joe Naylor, U.S. Army Veteran, Mr. Donald Millar, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, Mr. Bill Olson, U.S. Army Veteran, Mr. Lavern Borchardt, U.S. Army Veteran, WI State Senator Stephen Nass, WI Air National Guard Veteran, Sgt. First Class Christopher Mueller, U.S. Army & UW-Whitewater ROTC Instructor, Mr. Doug Lehman, Former American Legion Post #166 Commander, Betty Schelb, American Legion Post Auxiliary Unit 166 President and Mr. Steve Borchardt, son of Mr. Laverne Borchardt. There were approximately 25 in attendance. Invocation was provided by Rev. Cathy Price. The National Anthem was provided by The Fort Atkinson High School Choir. Bullets And Bravery Tribute provided by Radio Ron Stelse. Light refreshments were provided by The American Legion Post Auxiliary Unit 166. Teen Day Radio hosts this event every November which airs on 91.7 The Edge.
Friday November 8 at 6:00pm: The Dwight Foster Public Library. Presenter: Don Nass, United States Army Air Corps. Topic: Mr. Nass shared his experiences on the final three Tokyo Missions before VJ Day and the B-29 Bomber schematic. We gave away one B-29 Bomber Model to a young attendee. Time allotted for Q & A Session.
Tuesday November 12 at 6:00pm: The Dwight Foster Public Library. Presenter: Col. Wendy Goyette, United States Marine Corps. Topic: “The Women Marine Corps 101st Anniversary” and Marine Corps Policy Updates. Time allotted for Q & A Session.
Wednesday November 13 at 6:00pm: The Dwight Foster Public Library. Presenter: Lt. Phillip Gurtler, United States Coast Guard Lake Michigan Sector. Topic: The History; Past, Present And Future of the United States Coast Guard. We gave away U.S. Coast Guard promotional gifts to a young attendee. Time allotted for Q & A Session.
Thursday November 14 at 6:00pm: The Dwight Foster Public Library. Presenter: Mr. Scott Carmichael, United States Navy Veteran, Author and Lecturer. Topic: Mr. Carmichael shared his experiences from his 25 years of working for the Defense Intelligence Agency. During his time with the DIA, he worked with all of the branches of Military Intelligence. Time allotted for Q & A Session.
Friday November 15 at 6:00pm: The Dwight Foster Public Library. Presenter: Kent Rice of the Stars & Stripes Honor Flight Board of Directors. Topic: The Stars & Stripes Honor Flight Trip and personal stories by Howard Hadley, U.S. Air Force Veteran and Randy Zemel U.S. Marine Corps Veteran. Time allotted for Q & A Session. This is an annually scheduled event.
Friday December 6 at 6:00pm: The Dwight Foster Public Library. Presenter: Mark Finnegan, CEO and Co-Founder of VetsRoll, Inc. Topic: How the Pearl Harbor Attack influenced Germany and Japan to declare war against the United States of America. Panel Guests were Mr. George Olson, U.S. Navy Veteran,; Mr. Kaare Nevdal, Norwegian Air Force Veteran and Ewald “Wally” Sorensen, U.S. Army Air Corps Veteran. Time allotted for Q & A Session. This is an annually scheduled event.
Mr. George Olson, Mr. Ewald “Wally” Sorensen and Mr. Kaare Nevdal
Past 2020 Events
February 19 at 6:00pm: The Dwight Foster Public Library. Presenter: Mr. Joseph Naylor of the Education Dept. at the Wm. S. Middleton VA Hospital in Madison. Topic: The 2020 National Veterans Golden Age Games. This is an exciting sporting competition opportunity for Veterans, ages 55 or older, who receive health care from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Due to inclement weather, this library presentation has been rescheduled for Thursday April 30th.
February 28 at 6:00pm: The Dwight Foster Public Library. Presenter: Mr. Ben Knowles, a NASA Scientist and co-author of the ISS Data User’s Guide. Topic: The Cassini Spacecraft Mission to Saturn. Mr. Knowles shared his experiences as a NASA Scientist and his contributions to the Cassini Space Mission Project. Time allotted for Q&A Session. Mr. Knowles was invited to return for a followup presentation at a later date.
April 28th at 6:00pm: The Hedberg Public Library Program Room. U.S. Veterans Project Library Presents Karen Duvalle, Submarine Curator, Wisconsin Maritime Museum. Discover how 28 submarines were built for the US Navy during WW II, miles from any ocean and in the harsh winters of Manitowoc, WI. Presentation was cancelled due to COVID-19.
April 30 at 6:00pm: The Dwight Foster Public Library FCCU Community Room. U.S. Veterans Project Library Presents Joe Naylor of the Education Dept. at the Wm. S. Middleton VA hospital in Madison will talk about the National Vets Golden Age Games. Presentation was cancelled due to COVID-19.
May 17th- May 20th: VetsRoll 2020 trip to Washington, DC. Cancelled due to COVID-19.
June 22nd-June 27th: 2020 National Veterans Golden Age Games in Madison, WI. Cancelled due to COVID-19.