These Wauwatosa veterans are trying to make a veterans memorial at Hart Park. Here's how you can help.
Wauwatosa veteran Alex Kaleta served in the Army for 20 years. From serving in Germany to Korea, he's seen it all.
Now, after his retirement, he's fighting a different kind of battle.
Kaleta and other Wauwatosa veterans are pushing for a new monument to be placed in Hart Park in Wauwatosa to memorialize past and present veterans.
"Hopefully, it'll cause people to reflect," Kaleta said. "When they're walking, people can sit down and reflect on the sacrifice and the service of their relatives and of other folks who have served our country."
Representatives from Veterans of Foreign Wars Posts 1465, 6498, 8320 and American Legion Post 449 have formed the Veterans Memorial Committee to create the memorial and raise the funds to construct the monument.
In 2018, a similar committee rededicated a memorial for the four people from Wauwatosa who died during World War I at Root Common Park.
This new memorial will honor veterans who have served in every war, not just World War I.
There are more than 326,000 veterans statewide, many of whom live in Wauwatosa, although the exact number isn't known.
And with Veterans Day coming up, Kaleta hopes others consider giving to the project.
Kaleta said the memorial will cost about $125,000. Wisconsin's VFW Foundation, a nonprofit organization, will serve as the repository for donations.
The committee will need final approval from the city to construct the 7-foot tall monument next to the parking lot and bike trail at Hart Park, 7300 W. Chestnut St.
A stone monument will highlight each of the six branches of the United States military: the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard and Space Force.
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The memorial will also feature a flag court showcasing the various branches plus the American flag. The American flag will be 35 feet tall, while the branch flags will be 25 feet tall.
Community members may buy personalized bricks to honor family members or friends who have served.
The idea came together quickly, Kaleta said.
"It grew from being a simple flagpole to being an extensive memorial to honor those who served," he said.
Kaleta added that the memorial will memorialize veterans who have served as recently as the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.
"We want people to remember that they served," he said.
The committee will send letters to local businesses that might be interested in donating.
Kaleta said one of the only memorials for veterans in Wauwatosa is inside City Hall. He wants this memorial to be a more visible reminder of veterans' service.
"We just don't want people to be forgotten, that's it," Kaleta said.
'We don’t want the sacrifice of folks from all walks of life of people who have served our country to be forgotten."
To learn more about the project, or to make a donation, visit tosavetmemorial.com.
Evan Casey can be reached at 414-403-4391 or evan.casey@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter @ecaseymedia.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wauwatosa veterans trying to make Hart Park memorial
