H
ometown eroes
SOUTHERN LAKES NEWSPAPERS 2021
PUBLISHED BY
WAYS TO GIVE BACK SERVICE DOGS OVERDUE HONOR
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HOMETOWN HEROES
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HOMETOWN HEROES
Ways to give back How to show your appreciation for the military in a unique time United States military personnel serve both domestically and abroad. Active-duty personnel are following in the footsteps of retired veterans and protecting the freedoms of their fellow Americans while also playing a vital role in protecting millions of non-Americans across the globe. U.S. military personnel make myriad sacrifices every day. Recognition of those sacrifices is just one of the many ways Americans can show their appreciation for the military, even during the era of social distancing.
Help a veteran
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2019 there were 17.4 million military veterans living in the United States. More than half of those veterans are 65 or older. As difficult as social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic has proven for everyone, perhaps no group has sacrificed more than men and women older than 65, millions of whom have been separated from their families. Aging men and women spent a year or more isolated at home to protect themselves from a virus that public health
officials acknowledged was especially lethal to people older than 65. Adults who want to show their appreciation for military veterans can reach out to local veterans’ organizations and offer to lend a hand. Such organizations may be delivering meals to vulnerable veterans, driving veterans to appointments to see their doctors or get vaccinated or organizing events for veterans who have already been vaccinated. Pitching in to help with such efforts is a great way to show veterans their efforts are still appreciated, even if it’s been decades since they last served.
Help a military family
Data from the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense indicates that there were roughly 1.3 million active-duty military personnel in 2018. Many of those service members serve overseas for months at a time. Their families back home can use a helping hand even in the best of times, but they might be especially needy while confronting the pandemic. Though vaccination projections suggest hundreds of millions of Americans will
be fully vaccinated by the end of the year, in the meantime neighbors can help local military families handle life at home. Invite a local military family over for a weekly meal, offer to take kids to a sports practice if it’s safe to do so or help out with chores like mowing the lawn or washing the car.
Donate to charities
Adults who have not been vaccinated and are hesitant to be around others can still show their appreciation for military service members. Various organizations help both active-duty military and veterans, and donating to such charities can be a great way to help an excellent cause. If you’re unsure about which organization to support, visit Charity Navigator at charitynavigator.org. Charity Navigator evaluates hundreds of thousands of charitable organizations and can be an invaluable resource for prospective donors. Veterans and active military personnel deserve support. There are various ways for people to express that support, even as the world continues to confront the pandemic. (METRO CREATIVE)
NOV. 2021
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Hometown Heroes Veterans Day 2021 A publication of Southern Lakes Newspapers LLC 1102 Ann St., Delavan, WI 53115
(262) 728-3411
EDITOR: Tracy Ouellette CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Heidi Schulz ADVERTISING DIRECTOR:
Vicki Vanderwerff FOR ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES: Call (262) 725-7701, ext. 134 on the cover: Former U.S. Marine Bob Boulden salutes the fallen during the 2021 Memorial Day observances at Echo Lake Park in Burlington. above: Veterans stand at attention while a wreath is set free on Echo Lake during Burlington’s 2021 Memorial Day observances. The ceremony began at the water’s edge with an opening speech, followed by a wreath release, a moment of silence, a gun salute, and the playing of Taps, to honor those who have given their lives in our nation’s armed forces. CHAD HENISAK PHOTOS Hometown Heroes
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Get help Military sexual trauma refers to a service member’s experience with sexual assault or sexual harassment at any point during military service. This could be anything from inappropriate jokes or lewd comments to unwanted advances or forced sexual encounters. In the past, veterans may have struggled to find the help they needed to treat MST, but one organization – Disabled American Veterans – is striving for change. “In my 10 years working as a DAV benefits expert, I have filed countless claims for MST survivors and fought alongside them on their journey through the daunting claims and appeals process,” said Carmen McGinnis, a DAV benefits specialist and MST survivor. Many survivors become disheartened and frustrated when they receive a VA letter indicating the types of evidence they will need to provide. Worse yet, some get part of the way through but are so traumatized by the process, they abandon their claim altogether.” An estimated one in four female veterans and one in 100 male veterans in the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system report experiencing MST. It is not, however, a womanspecific issue, as many men have also reported and are being treated at the VA for conditions related to military sexual trauma. MST has become an increasingly
FREE SERVICES HELP MILITARY MEMBERS WHO EXPERIENCE SEXUAL TRAUMA The Department of Veterans Affairs health care system reports an estimated one in four female veterans and one in 100 male veterans suffer from military sexual trauma. STOCK PHOTO Hometown Heroes
corrosive problems” across the military. The DOD Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office reported 20,500 service members were sexually assaulted or raped in 2018, including 13,000 women and 7,500 men, an increase from roughly 14,900 in 2016. Survivors of MST have options for coming forward, but almost 80% of cases still go unreported, which can make filing a VA claim for care and benefits difficult. Many veterans suffer long-term symptoms and conditions related to this trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and substance abuse, as well as gastrointestinal symptoms, headaches and chronic fatigue.
prominent issue. In fact, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin himself has stated that “sexual assault and harassment remain persistent and
One veteran’s journey to find help
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Navy veteran Mike Stern knows it takes strength to ask for help. He served for four years with deployments to the Middle East and the Horn of Africa. After returning from a deployment, he was raped by a Navy officer. Risking his military career, Stern reported the incident, which eventually led to separation from the Navy and a struggle to find treatment programs to address his MST-based PTSD. Stern was eventually able to access benefits through the help of DAV and its assistance programs. DAV helps veterans to file VA claims at no cost and taps resources so veterans can find effective, empowering ways to cope with MST. All DAV benefits experts are veterans themselves - some are also survivors of MST – and they can help survivors walk through the claims process with compassion and discretion. Additionally, MST survivors are eligible to receive health care services through the VA for their related conditions, regardless of whether they
have a service-connected disability rating. Every VA facility also has a designated MST coordinator who serves as a contact person for MST-related issues. This person is an advocate and can help veterans find and access VA services and programs, state and federal benefits, and community resources.
Coping with MST If you or someone you know is an MST survivor, here are some things that may help: • Professional counseling: Seeking a counselor or therapist who specializes in sexual trauma can be a good first step to healing. • Lifestyle changes: Exercising, eating healthfully, volunteering, avoiding drugs and alcohol, spending more time with loved ones and practicing optimism are all helpful. • Mindfulness: Being mindful is to be aware of and concentrate on the present. It can include breathing exercises or focusing on a singular thing, such as an enjoyable food or singing bird. • Practicing optimism: Being aware of and reflecting on the good things in your life can create joy and a sense of peace or happiness. • Peer groups: Finding others who have experienced MST can help you feel comfortable talking about MST and working through the intense emotions associated with it. • Trained service dogs: If you are struggling with post-traumatic stress or other conditions related to MST, you may benefit from a service dog that is specifically trained to help manage or mitigate symptoms. VA providers can help to determine eligibility for a service dog. For more information about MST and assistance in the VA claims process, visit DAV.org.
A long overdue honor HOMETOWN HEROES
NOV. 2021
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Area World War II veteran awarded high school diploma By Jason Arndt STAFF WRITER
Raymond Schaefer spent 77 years wishing he had earned his high school diploma. Schaefer, 96, now of Franklin, set aside his ambition in 1943 while a student at Racine County School of Agriculture and Domestic Economy in Rochester and enlisted in the U.S. Army. Shortly after, Schaefer served the United States in World War II, with a deployment overseas. Since then, according to family friend Cynthia Bennett, of Portage, Schaefer often hoped to garner his high school diploma someday. That day happened on March 18, 2021, at Waterford Union High School, where band students greeted him with songs of cheer, and school officials awarded Schaefer an honorary diploma. “It was exciting, very exciting,” he said. “I had no idea it was going to happen.” Principal Dan Foster recognized Schaefer, who lived in the Waterford Area School District, for his achievements and said he sacrificed his education for the country. The Racine County Agriculture School closed in 1959. “Raymond not only served our country, but also he served the people of this world and paved a way for subsequent generation of Americans to find success and reap the benefits of his and his comrade’s sacrifices,” he said. “As an active member of the United States Army, Raymond fought in the European campaign while his classmates continued their education in Rochester.” According to the first edition of “The Wildcat,” the agricultural school’s yearbook, Schaefer and 69 of his classmates were recognized for serving the country. Schaefer remembered when he first enlisted in military. “In 1943, I went to the Army and (was) sent over to Europe right away in the Battle of the Bulge,” he said. Schaefer went to work for a heavy equipment manufacturer in Milwaukee upon his discharge from the military. Bennett, according to Foster, is a caring friend who wanted to see Schaefer receive a diploma and initiated the process. “Cynthia wrote in her message that, ‘…he wished he had his high school diploma…for his life accomplishments and being an all around good person,’” Foster recited. Bennett said she felt it was imperative to honor Schaefer because of his work ethic. “He worked hard all his life,” she said. As for the band salute, she saw an uplifted Schaefer, who was approached by a student thanking him for his service to the United States following the ceremony. “He thanked him for his service and I thought that was very nice,” she said. Schaefer, in addition to his honorary diploma, received a one-of-a-kind commemorative medallion through Jostens along with a cap and gown to recognize him as a 1943 graduate. Foster thanked WUHS School Board members as well as multiple community partners for helping with the graduation. The community partners include Joanie Beck, of the Rochester Historical Society, for her research and collection of resources for the ceremony along with Dan McCormick from Jostens. “Finally, I would like to thank Mrs. Cynthia Bennett, of Portage, for being a caring human being and friend who seized an opportunity by initiating this significant moment for (Raymond),” Foster said.
from top: Superintendent Lucas Francois, of Waterford Union High School, presents an honorary diploma to World War II veteran Raymond Schaefer during a March 18 celebration at the school; Waterford principal Dan Foster delivers an address honoring Raymond Schaefer (center) for his service to United States during World War II at a ceremony on March 18, 2021. At right is Schaefer’s family friend, Cynthia Bennett, who nominated him for the honorary diploma. JASON ARNDT Hometown Heroes
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Learn about the MILITARY
Here’s a brief overview of the six service branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, which include the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Coast Guard and the newest military branch, the U.S. Space Force.
Air Force
The Air Force is part of the Department of Defense. It’s responsible for aerial military operations, defending U.S. air bases, and building landing strips. Service members are known as airmen. The reserve components are Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.
Army
The Army is part of the DOD and is the largest of the five military branches. It handles major ground combat missions, especially operations that are ongoing. The Army Special Forces unit is known as the Green Berets for its headgear. Service members are known as soldiers. The reserve components are Army Reserve and Army National Guard.
Coast Guard
The Coast Guard is part of the Department of Homeland Security. It’s responsible for maritime law enforcement, including drug smuggling. It manages maritime search and rescue and marine environmental protection. It also secures ports, waterways, and the coasts. Service members are known as Coast Guardsmen, nicknamed Coasties. The reserve component is Coast Guard Reserve.
Marine Corps
The Marine Corps is part of the DOD. It provides land combat, sea-based, and air-ground operations support
for the other branches during a mission. This branch also guards U.S. embassies around the world and the classified documents in those buildings. Marine Corps Special Operations Command (MARSOC) members are known as Raiders. All service members are referred to as Marines. The reserve component is Marine Corps Reserve.
Navy
The Navy is part of the DOD. It protects waterways (sea and ocean) outside of the Coast Guard’s jurisdiction. Navy warships provide the runways for aircraft to land and take off when at sea. Navy SEALs (sea, air, and land)
are the special operations force for this branch. All service members are known as sailors. The reserve component is Navy Reserve.
Space Force
The Space Force is a new service, created in December 2019 from the former Air Force Space Command. The Space Force falls within the Department of the Air Force. It organizes, trains, and equips space forces to protect U.S. and allied interests in space and to provide space capabilities to the joint force. Source: www.usa.gov.
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Honoring the Men and Women Serving Our Country
Honoring the veterans The Walworth County Historical Society 2021 Veterans Day program honored the group of veterans who gathered along with all who have served or are serving. Glen Boyd was the guest speaker at the service; he spoke on the Burma Campaign. In downtown Elkhorn, local veterans marched while carrying flags in honor of the service branches as well as the American flag. There was also a 21-gun salute and the playing of Taps. DAVE DRESDOW Hometown Heroes
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Gateway students honor fallen veterans Gateway Technical College Arboriculture/Urban Forestry Technician student Jenna Wickstrom said performing service work at a cemetery for servicemen and servicewomen held a personal as well professional meaning for her. “My grandfather served and he passed away recently,” Wickstrom said. “I never thought about the work that needs to be done for events like this – and for a place like this, a cemetery. I think my grandfather would be proud of me. “I am excited to get some hands-on work in the field and meet companies and learn. I also think it’s cool that we are able to serve others in this way.” Wickstrom and her fellow Gateway Arboriculture students took part in the national Saluting Branches: Arborists United for Veteran Remembrance event this year, held in Wisconsin at the Wood National Cemetery in West Milwaukee. Saluting Branches marks the largest day of service event in the arboriculture industry, bringing 4,000 professionals to donate time, talent and resources to work in 80 veterans cemeteries from across the country. Gateway lead Arboriculture instructor Aaron Schauer has brought his students to the event for the past three years. He pairs students with area professionals to perform tree care work throughout the national cemetery, which has been a burial site for service members since 1871. “To begin with, I think this is an opportunity for students to learn and to give back to their community, especially
Gateway Technical College arboriculture students recently took part in the national Saluting Branches: Arborists United for Veteran Remembrance event. The lead Arboriculture instructor Aaron Schauer has led the students in this effort for the last three years. SUBMITTED PHOTO Hometown Heroes
to the servicemen and servicewomen who gave everything for their country,” Schauer said. “This is a way to honor them by ensuring their final resting place is well maintained, as well as a place their family and loved ones can come to visit in a peaceful and beautiful setting.” Schauer also said the event provides students with a way to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to a real-world setting. They gain the chance to work with industry professionals where they can learn from them, network with them and find out more about the industry they will soon enter. “They can apply what they’ve learned but also connect with professionals from area companies,” Schauer said. “This is very unlike a class. It’s an actual workday to apply what they’ve learned in class. They’re a member of a work crew and find out how a crew works – and a lot about the industry. “Professionals got to their current positions because they learned from others, and they don’t forget that. They like the opportunity to work with students who are getting ready to start their careers.” As she readied herself for the event, student Avery Pollard said she was also looking forward to the hands-on aspect of the event. “I am hoping I can make some connections with companies and learn some on-the-job experience, if you will, rather than only experiences in the classroom,” said Pollard.
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PTSD service dogs for veterans are specially trained to help their handler perform tasks they cannot otherwise perform on their own.
PTSD service dogs Imagine nightmares limiting you to a few hours of sleep a night, feeling too scared to drive or take a walk, and staying inside your home week after week due to anxiety. This was the reality for Tishawna of St. Louis, Missouri, a veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder, commonly referred to as PTSD. “I can go weeks without leaving my house. I have an 11-year-old child still at home and there are things she wants to do and I feel like I’m letting her down,” said Tishawna. “PTSD has taken a lot of my life.” Tishawna is not alone. More than 3 million veterans suffer from PTSD. Having tried a variety of mental health treatments with limited success, she then learned that PTSD service dogs are proven to reduce the symptoms of PTSD, even when traditional therapies cannot. PTSD service dogs are not the same as emotional support, therapy or companion dogs. Like service dogs for the blind, deaf and physically disabled, PTSD service dogs for veterans must be specially trained to help their handler perform tasks they cannot otherwise perform on their own. Unfortunately, it costs over $20,000 on average to train and care for one service dog before it’s placed with a military veteran. Most veterans are unable to afford this cost and depend on the generosity of organizations who make this life-changing option available to those who need it most.
STOCK PHOTOS Hometown Heroes
Each year, less than 1% of individuals in need of a service dog that apply for one are able to actually get one. That’s why when Tishawna learned she was approved to receive a service dog from Got Your Six Support Dogs, with the help of Dog Chow and its “Service Dog Salute” campaign, she felt like she won the lottery. For veterans struggling with PTSD and other issues, getting a service dog provides hope of a new beginning. Tishawna cried the first time she met her service dog,
can change veterans’ lives
Archie, a moment that is captured in Dog Chow’s new documentary short film titled “Even Heroes Need Heroes,” available to view at DogChow.com/Service. The film follows three veteran and service dog pairs as they learn how to cope with symptoms of PTSD, such as night terrors, emotional detachment and hypervigilance. “Tishawna was always in the house, looking at the four corners of the walls depressed, just wasn’t motivated at all,”
said Karl, Tishawna’s husband. “It had a big effect on our marriage and our family. Now with Archie, I see her smiling. I hear her excited, like hey, let’s go outside today, let’s go for a walk, let’s go for a ride.” Thanks to Archie and his special training, Tishawna is becoming more independent. She’s sleeping better and having fewer panic attacks. She even has started driving again and feels much closer to her daughter. “Archie has really made a big difference. Some people say, ‘Oh, he’s just a dog.’ No, Archie’s like my son. He feels me. He calms me,” she said. Through its “Service Dog Salute” program, Dog Chow continues to support organizations who train service dogs for veterans with PTSD, including Got Your Six Support Dogs and Tony LaRussa’s Animal Rescue Foundation, donating $850,000 since the initiative began in 2018. In addition to donating funds, Dog Chow has also worked with members of Congress on federal legislation supporting veterans with PTSD. Passed with broad bipartisan support in 2021, the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act will create a pilot program in the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to train and connect service dogs to veterans with PTSD. To find out how you can help, visit DogChow.com/service. (BPT)
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Never forget Veterans from across the Southern Lakes area gathered with their local communities to honor the fallen during the 2021 Memorial Day observances. Clockwise from top left: Memorial Day observances begin at the Government Center on the downtown Elkhorn square in 2021; Members of Elkhorn’s American Legion Post 45 and VFW Memorial Post 6375 led a Memorial Day ceremony at Mount Olivet Cemetery, which included the playing of “Taps.”; Veterans make up the color guard during the 2021 Memorial Day ceremony at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Elkhorn; The color guard leads the 2021 Memorial Day Parade in Elkhorn; Veteran John Geise addresses the crowd during the 2021 Memorial Day observances in Elkhorn. • PHOTOS BY DAVE DRESDOW •
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clockwide from top: Local veterans attend the 2021 Memorial Day services at Palmyra’s Hillside Cemetery with American Legion Post 304; Josh Tomczyk points out the name of his grandfather, Earl D. Wilfert, for his family during the 2021 Memorial Day ceremony in Burlington; Veteran Dale Mitchell hands out flags to parade spectators during 2021 Palmyra Memorial Day Parade; Andrew “AJ” Plotz carries the American Flag for Pack and Scout Troop 14 of Palmyra in the 2021 Memorial Day Parade. • PHOTOS BY TARA LEROY AND CHAD HENSIAK •
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Adopt a “war-fighting spirit” and do what is necessary to accomplish your financial mission, whether it is saving money, reducing debt, building wealth for retirement, taking specific steps for money management now that will pay off with financial freedom in the future. STOCK PHOTOS Hometown Heroes
Military families make financial planning a mission Military families are the foundation of our nation’s security, and they deserve respect and support for their dedication and service to the country. And given the unique challenges and frequent unpredictability of a military lifestyle, proactive financial planning is especially valuable for military families. However, military families also have access to financial benefits and savings opportunities such as low-cost investments, loans, insurance, and legal protection, according to the website of the CFP Board, a non-profit organization whose mission is to benefit the public by granting the CFP certification and upholding it as the recognized standard of excellence for competent and ethical personal financial planning. “Applying the same mission mindset to managing your personal finances that you bring to managing your military career can be especially helpful,” says Steve Repak, CFP, a U.S. Army Vveteran who went on to a career as a certified financial planner after 12 years of service. “If I had done a little planning, and executed on what might have been a slightly painful budget when I first joined the military, I wouldn’t have been left with so much credit card debt,” he
acknowledges. To make the most of your finances, create a financial plan for saving and investment just as you would plan a military maneuver. Identify your goal First, identify where you are, then where you want to be financially, and outline the steps to get there. Start by figuring out your monthly income and expenses, and how much you want to add to savings each month. Put a plan in writing to reduce or eliminate spending to meet your goal. Turn to a team Military families can consult a range of resources for help in developing a financial plan, including the U.S. Army Community Services for Army personnel. In addition, a CFP professional can help you clarify financial goals and objectives and offer you strategies for meeting them. “Be determined and take action now. What you know about financial planning is less important than what you do about it,” Repak says. Visit letsmakeaplan.org for more advice and tips to help military families meet their financial goals.
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