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A Lesson in History
The Department of Veteran Affairs played a key role in bringing the
Traveling Wall to the Community Center parking lot next to Majestic
Pines Casino on the 6,7,8 and 9th of May. As several maintenance
workers and many volunteers worked tirelessly to set up the event,
including preparing the base for The Wall and putting it together,
the stage was set for a moving experience for all that would come to
pay tribute. On May 7th, the Black River Falls School District
brought out wave after wave of students to visit The Wall. From the
young middle school students up to the high school students it was
interesting to see their reactions. There were students that were
locating relatives that had died in the conflict. The little ones
would walk from one end of The Wall to the other, running their
fingers across names almost as a child may do to qualify something
as real. Gebhardt Middle School Principal Shelly Severson made the
trip with several students from her school. Severson said that in
her school the students have been talking about how in a time of war
how important it is to celebrate the people that have fought for our
country in the past. “Our children see the war on T.V. but they
don’t see it in the personal sense at all, so we were hoping that by
showing them The Wall it would bring it to a more personal level.”
When asked what she had hoped the children would take away from
their visit, she stated, “the shear volume of names, so that when
they hear of war and think of war they don’t think of it as a game.
That they realize how many thousands of names are on this Wall and
that many families have been forever changed because of what
happened.”
How this traveling Wall came about
In 1970 Norm Bergsma was shipped back stateside from Viet Nam, but
not even to his home where he was born and raised, Seattle,
Washington. Instead he was dropped off somewhere in California. They
took his gear, turned him loose and he walked out the gate. Norm
didn’t know where he was. When he tried to hitchhike, a Volkswagen
bus full of hippies pulled over and when he ran about three blocks
to get in they gave him the finger, all laughed and drove away. He
said that he felt like he got shafted, but not as bad as some of his
comrades. Eventually Norm made it to the airport and paid his way
home. As the years had gone by, he had married and raised his
family, built up a successful business and had a house and cars.
Almost seems utopic after his ordeal in Viet Nam. But in 1985, all
that was to change. In a freak chemical explosion, he lost not only
his father but his brother. This was to be the last straw for Norm.
He had not thought of Viet Nam for almost twenty years and now going
through Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Norm stated that he was
angry but he didn’t know at what. Within a year he drove his
business into bankruptcy and lost just about everything material in
his life, but not his family. But Norm kept his faith and a positive
attitude while realizing that he didn’t have the material things in
life, they really had him. He felt that the business, money, houses
and cars were really keeping him from what his purpose for life was.
“You get caught up in all this worldly stuff and it drains all your
time and energy. I feel that God just took all of that away and by
accident I wound up on an island in Washington State. My family and
me rented a house sight unseen and moved in at midnight and when we
got up in the morning it happened to be right on the ocean.” One day
he found an ad for a rap group for Veterans so he decided to attend.
After sitting in a room with other Vets and hearing some of the same
things that he was going through and that there was a name for it (PTSD)
Norm began his healing. He realized that he wasn’t going insane and
more importantly he was not alone. It was one night after being in
one of those groups while driving home that he heard a voice say to
him ‘I want you to paint’. Norm kept on driving and he said, “What
am I going to paint?” The voice said ‘I’ll show you what to paint’.
The next morning he thought about it but he thought it was a dream.
A couple of weeks later Norm started to paint in his basement. Norm
had previously painted in college before he was drafted for Viet
Nam. Painting was to become a way of dealing with the many hard
emotions that were the result of his war experiences. Some paintings
were from photographs that he had taken while over in Viet Nam and
some were memories from his Tour of Duty. Norm’s first painting was
his face along with the faces of men he served with in what he
called ‘A Reunion’. He has never stopped painting. About a year ago,
Norm had met with a man who had this traveling Wall and was going to
sell it to a museum where it would be permanently parked. Norm felt
that it should continue on the road. He told the man that he would
buy it, even though he didn’t have any money. But he feels that God
provided the answer by means of a banker that was willing to put up
the money so that he could purchase The Wall with his loving and
supportive wife and they in turn would put up the work. He
continued, “ When we bought the truck and these metal panels, we
took on the responsibility of traveling around the country and
devoting our lives to doing this with Honor. We were also bringing
Honor to these names and the opportunity for families to come and
visit loved ones.” Norm and his wife see themselves as mere stewards
of The Wall and not owners. He stated, “How do you own The Wall? How
do you own 58,000 names of young kids who all have families and
relatives and that had their lives cut short?” So he and his wife
feel that they truly are stewards. They feel they have been given
the job of being caretakers for however long God sees fit. They feel
that God has called them to do this and has provided the means
necessary to do it. In addition to The Wall, Norm displays many of
his paintings and articles that have been written about his journey
through life.
Remembering
For a few families, a ceremony of respect and honor was held on May
8. As a couple hundred people looked on, the Hi Wa Si Pi singers
opened up the special ceremony that would not only honor Anthony
LaMere (KIA Viet Nam), Elliott Decorah (KIA Viet Nam), Mitchell
Redcloud Jr. (Korea) and Joshua Sanford (WWII), but also see the of
Medals that Elliott Decorah had earned during the Viet Nam Conflict.
Ho-Chunk Nation President George Lewis, Wisconsin Chapter of Rolling
Thunder President-Mike O’Neal, Viet Nam Veteran Andy Thundercloud,
Rep. Ron Kind, a representative from Govoner Doyle’s office and M.C.
Doug Long looked on as members of the Andrew Blackhawk (Black River
Falls), Joseph White (Wisconsin Rapids), Coughlin-Sanford (Necedah),
Sanford Whiteagle (Baraboo) and Greencrow-Rice (Winnebago, Nebraska)
American Legion Posts along with members of the Andrew Blackhawk
Ladies Auxillary brought in the colors.
Representative Ron Kind (D), stated that “he wanted to thank the
Ho-Chunk Nation for sponsoring The Wall and for allowing its arrival
here in Western Wisconsin to give all citizens a chance to visit it,
especially those who have not had the opportunity to visit the
memorial in Washington D.C..” Rep. Kind made special acknowledgement
to Caralee Murphy and Mike Rave and everyone that helped in the
creation of The Wall. In this time of war, Kind said that it is
incumbent on the policy makers of our nation to be extra careful and
thorough before asking the youth of this nation to fight in distant
lands and perhaps never make it home alive. Kind also stated “today
we still have young forces serving us so well under very difficult
and dangerous circumstances both in Afghanistan and Iraq.” Kind said
that he feels that it is especially important that they get the
policy right so that all of our armed services receive the support
that they need so that they can come home soon. While Kind paid
special attention to the current conflict, he asked people to pay
tribute to all Veterans who have given the ultimate sacrifice while
serving their country and to those that made it home.
After many long awaited years relatives of Elliott Decorah had a
bittersweet presentation made to them. As Andy Thundercloud spoke
for the family, he reminisced about growing up with Elliott and
spoke of how much Elliott loved and respected all of his relatives.
Andy said that Elliott chose the way of his ancestors, to not run
away from war but to serve with honor. Caralee Murphy and Mike Rave
of the Ho-Chunk Nation Veteran Affairs Office along with President
Lewis presented Woody Decorah the following medals that Elliott had
earned: The Bronze Star, The Purple Heart, National Service Defense,
The Viet Nam Service with one Bronze Service Star, The Republic of
Viet Nam Campaign with Device 1960 and The Republic of Viet Nam
Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation. Also present were relatives
of Anthony LaMere (KIA Viet Nam), Joshua Sanford (Only Native
American to serve in the Flying Tigers during WWII) and Mitchell
Redcloud Jr. (KIA Korean). A wreath laying ceremony by
representatives of the families honored LaMere, Decorah, Redcloud
and Sanford. Frank LaMere, Andy Thundercloud, Owen Mike and Joshua
Sanford’s son all took time to share brief words concerning the
sacrifices that their relatives had made for their Nation.
There are other War Memorials, no less significant then this one.
They all help to heal, pay tribute, comfort the loved ones left
behind and may help us to understand what happened. War is very real
and touches each and every one of us. I thank all of those that have
given the ultimate sacrifice, those that have served, those that are
serving and encourage and support those yet to serve. From my heart,
I say thank you.
Thank you from Veteran Affairs
The Division of Veterans Affairs would like to take the time to
thank each and everyone for their contribution:
With their time, personal support and dedication this event was a
true success. The owner of The Wall, Norm Bergsma was truly amazed
and honored to be a part of this ceremony conducted in honoring our
warriors. The Ho-Chunk Nation was the first Native American tribe
this wall has visited. With everyone’s cooperation and dedication it
will be a part of our Veterans history.
Many thanks to the Cultural Resources Department and Susette Arentz
for her support and dedication for this event, their Ho-Chunk
Cultural Display, their support and expertise on Ho-Chunk Culture
and their time spent with the visiting school children.
The DNR/ Lands Department for their expertise on the surveying of
the site area.
The Ho-Chunk Housing and Public Works Department for their donations
of trash receptacles and preparation of the site area.
Area I Community Center staff for their assistance.
The cooks for day 1 of this event were Nettie and Betty Kingsley and
Dorothy Decorah who graciously donated their time to help cook for
the volunteers. Amos Kingsley donated the food for the evening meal.
The Andrew Blackhawk Ladies Auxiliary Unit 129 provided the meal for
day 2 for the volunteers.
Shelley Thundercloud and Vanessa Carriaga and Deanna DeMarrias who
cooked for day 4 donated their time and effort for this event. We
also would like to thank all the other parents supporting this
event.
Andrew Blackhawk Post 129 for posting of the colors for Saturday’s
ceremony and having their fundraiser at the event.
Joseph White Post 442 for their participation in Saturday’s
ceremony.
Coughlin-Stanford American Legion Post from Necedah, Wisconsin for
participating in Saturday’s ceremony.
Greencrow-Rice American Legion Post from Winnebago, Nebraska for
participating in Saturday’s ceremony.
Andrew Blackhawk American Legion Post 129 Auxiliary Unit for their
participating in The Wall ceremony.
All the people who worked as name locators for locating names on The
Wall.
Thanks to the Mitchell RedCloud families, the Elliott DeCora
families, the Joshua Sanford families and the Anthony La Mere
families for their participation in this event.
Ralph and Richard Snake were here everyday to volunteer at their own
expense. Thank you for the dedication and your support.
Thank you to the Reserve Unit # 458 Service Company, from Onalaska,
Wisconsin for guarding the Wall. This unit did an outstanding job.
Sponsors who donated for the Wall included Gaier Construction,
Funmaker LLC, The Falls Florist Shop, Scholze Ace Hardware, and the
Black River School District.
Thank you to the Ho-Chunk Nation Business Department for their
donation of money for the food provided to the volunteers.
Pendleton blankets were provided from the Office of the President
and we thank Ho-Chunk Nation President George Lewis for his presence
and kind words.
Andrew Thundercloud and Owen Mike for helping with this event with
their words and excellent leadership skills.
Doug Long for his excellent MC skills.
Ron Kind and Governor Doyle’s offices for their presence.
If we missed anyone please accept our apologies and thank you to
everyone again, who made this event happen.
Veterans Affairs Division Office Staff |
