Take A Vet To Lunch Mentor Program

Lydia Heinen

Veterans Oral History Project Award Ceremony & Luncheon - 2017

Student Participants: Jaden Liermann, Bryce Denzien, Ashleigh McCarthy, Georgios Bofiles, Brian Thometz, Khadijah Dhoondia, Erin Loeschmann, George Park, Kailyn Jackowick, Will Smyczek, Kate Buerger, Erin Berg

Mike Cady, Superintendant of Pewaukee Schools and Elizabeth Idleman, local attorney and BTM Leadership Team, were guests on Karen Ellenbecker's Money Sense radio program aired on WISN 1130 AM radio.

Local Veterans Tell Their Stories to Students at University School of Milwaukee (USM)

Veterans Reunion - 2017

BTM On The Radio!

Veterans Oral History Project Award Ceremony & Luncheon - 2018

The Bell Tower Memorial coordinates a program called "Take a Vet to Lunch". This is a mentoring program that pairs community leaders with military college students. Shown here are City of Brookfield Fire Chief and Vietnam Air Force Veteran Charlie Meyer with MATC military student Zach Mayo. If you, or someone you know might be interested in participating, contact us today!

Veterans Oral History Project Award Ceremony & Luncheon - 2016

Veteran Participants: Marge Behlen, Army Nurse, WWII; John Kent, Army, Korean War Era; Harry Boehler, Navy, WWII; John Bosch, Army, WWII; Wayne Iverson, Navy, WWII; Fritz Krause, Army Air Corps, WWII; Dallas Kobriger, Coast Guard, WWII

Student Participants: Liana Jackson, Kyle Turba, Lydia Heinen, Kendall Schoenike, Aidan Nordquist

Honor Flight Book Signing

On October 26, 2017, BTM held an Honor Flight Book signing at Culver's in Waukesha. WWII Navy Veteran Al Exner and his wife Norma Mae attended, in addition to WWII Coast Guard Veteran Dallas Kobriger, BTM member Jean Miller, Korean War Navy Veteran John Miller, and BTM member Cheri Enters. All three Veterans enjoyed sharing their stories of military service with one another.

Voice of Democracy4:16

Veteran Participants: John Eskau, Navy, WWII; Al Hansen, Army, WWII; Phil Baird, Navy, WWII; Al Exner, Navy, WWII; guest Alice Byrne, Army; Marge Behlen, Army Nurse, WWII; Wayne Iverson, Navy, WWII; Harry Boehler, Navy, WWII; Harry Baker, Army, WWII; Fritz Krause, Army, WWII; John Bosch, Army, WWII; Mike Weigl, Army, WWII; Harold Bachman, Army, WWII; John Kent, Army, WWII

Veterans Howard Hadley and Dennis Ziebell visited WWII Veteran Arnold Fuerstenberg for his 101st birthday celebration. Howard presented Arnold with a WI Vietnam Chapter One coin. Dennis presented Arnold with a commemorative coin "Thank you for your service". Our Veterans of all conflicts are to be celebrated for the freedoms we enjoy. Let us never forget anyone's service to our country whether at home or abroad.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARNOLD!!

Veteran Birthday Visit

Voice of Democracy

PHS Student Lydia Heinen Shared her experience with the Veterans Oral History Project in an oral essay for the VFW Voice of Democracy competition. Hear her compelling story.

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Veterans Reunion

Veterans Oral History Project - 2022

Veteran Participants: Mike Weigl, Army, WWII; Phil Baird, Navy, WWII; Al Exner, Navy, WWII; Ed Tyre, Army, WWII; Al Hansen, Army, WWII; Harry Baker, Army, WWII; John Eskau, Navy, WWII; Charlie Myers, Air Force, Vietnam War; Edmund Mies, Army, WWII

Student Participants: Kaleena Montez, Luke Dykowski, Nik Portz, Lauren Baylor, Tyler Kiser, Jinda Guidinger, Douglas Kirkofer, Alan Cameron, Jordan Varghese

Veteran Participants: Jack Eleyet, Air Force, Korea; Jo Helgeson, Army, Korea; John Jadel, Army, Korea; John Miller, Navy, Korea; Charlie Payne, Army, WWII; Alvin Rohde, Army, Korea; Ralph Simoneau, Marines, WWII; Robert Smith, Marines, Korea; Jerry Stern, Navy, WWII

Student Participants: Chloe Brossman, Andrew DeMaster, Nikolas Denzien, Jake Gonzalez, Katherine Hearden, Carolyn Miller, Amaya Seidl, Stevie Ward, Emily Willis

The Bell Tower Memorial (BTM) held a reunion for the Veterans interviewed for the 2016, 2017 & 2018 Veterans Oral History Project. Kirkland Crossings in Pewaukee hosted the event on August 17, 2018.

Veteran Attendees:

Back row: Al Hansen, Army, WWII; Ralph Simoneau, Marine, WWII; Bob Smith, Navy/Marine, Korea; Fritz Krause, Army Air Corp, WWII; Wayne Iverson, Navy, WWII; John Miller, Navy, Korea

Front row: John Bosch, Army, WWII; John Eskau, Navy, Korea; Al Exner, Navy, WWII; Jo Helgeson, Army, Korea; Jerry Stern, Navy, WWII

Check out photos from our various programs, events and activities. You can also view our Veterans Oral History Project videos on our YouTube Channel. Enjoy!

Veteran Participants: Daniel Driscoll, Navy, Desert Storm, Iraq, Afghanistan; Jeff Ellenbecker, Army, Gulf War Era; Mark Gilbert, British Army, Northern Ireland, Iraq; Larry Graham, Army, Korean War Era; Wayne Graves, Army, Vietnam Era; Patrick Holloway, Army, Vietnam War; Robert Jacob, Army, WWII; Tom Lemmer, Navy, Vietnam War; Bob Scanlan, Air Force, Vietnam War; Steve Schweiss, Air Force, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom; Cliff Wallenfang, Air Force, Cold War; Dennis Ziebell, Army, Vietnam War