Oshkosh North to raise flags in Veterans Courtyard, a two-year, $15K student-led project

Brandon Reid, Oshkosh Northwestern
·2 min read
Communities students at Oshkosh North High School are preparing for a flag-raising ceremony in the newly created Veterans Courtyard outside the school. This photo from Oct. 11, 2023, is from the group’s Facebook page and states: “Zillges Landscape, Fireplace & Excavation added the stone, bushes and beautiful green grass. All of this will highlight our flag poles.”

OSHKOSH — Communities students at Oshkosh North High School are inviting the public to a Veterans Courtyard flag-raising ceremony at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 24.

The ceremony comes after students in the Communities program worked for two years to raise $15,000.

The Veterans Courtyard is outside the school, 1100 W. Smith Ave., near the east parking lot. The event is expected to conclude at 2:15 p.m. with a private reception to follow.

Here’s more about the project.

Students worked to secure sponsorships, donations

The Communities students worked to secure sponsors and donations for the project. Sponsors of the flags, listed in military order of flag precedence, are as follow:

  • American flag — The American Legion Family, Cook-Fuller Post 70;

  • Wisconsin flag — Craig Johnson, in memoriam BW Keese (CPL), 1913, and AGW Johnson (COL), USMA, 1941;

  • POW-MIA flag — Vietnam Veterans of America, Associate Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 437;

  • Army flag — Lyle Eichhorst Family — Bruce ’74, Navy (PO2); Bart ’76, Army (SSG); Dean ’80; Barbara ’84;

  • Marine Corps flag — Marine Corps League Detachment No. 357 and Winnebago Unit Marine Corps League Auxiliary;

  • Navy flag — Oshkosh North Class of 1973 and Class of 1986;

  • Air Force flag — Paul Sonnleitner ’86 and family Kari and Sydney, in honor of William Sonnleitner (USAF);

  • Space Force flag — Communities Program at Oshkosh North; and

  • Coast Guard flag — Vietnam Veterans of America, Associate Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 437.

A news release said success of the project would not have been possible without the contributions of Zillges Landscape, Fireplace & Excavation, Pascarella Construction, and Sommerville Flags.

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Courtyard is a tribute to faculty, alumni who have served or are currently serving

The Oshkosh North Veterans Courtyard is a tribute to the faculty and alumni of Oshkosh North who have served or are currently serving in the armed forces.

“It stands as a symbol of our profound appreciation for the sacrifices they have made for our nation,” a news release said. “The addition of the flag poles enhances the visibility of the courtyard and the military branches it honors. Moreover, a flagpole embodies respect, integrity and patriotism — values that our veterans have upheld throughout their service and life.”

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Contact Brandon Reid at 920-686-2984 or breid@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @breidHTRNews.

This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: Oshkosh North High School holds Veterans Courtyard flag-raising