PRESS RELEASE                                             July 30, 2007

Soldiers Home Chapel Restoration Begins!
Scaffolding Goes Up as Tower Work Gets Underway

MILWAUKEE—The scaffolding is in place and the Soldiers Home Foundation, Inc., is ready to begin the first phase of restoration of the 1889 Home Chapel on the grounds of the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee.

Phase I of the three-phase, $5 million restoration includes restoration of the Chapel’s architecturally unique tower, which is now surrounded in scaffolding as Beyer Construction, under the direction of Kubala Washatko Architects, Inc. and in partnership with the VA Medical Center, prepares to begin the tower work. Phase I also includes restoration—and replacement—of the Chapel’s leaking roof, slated to be done by Dec. 31.

The Foundation completed lead and asbestos abatement of the Chapel this winter and is busy raising the remaining money to continue the restoration work and reopen the chapel for veterans and the community by Dec. 31, 2008.

The National Register of Historic Places district Chapel will be completely restored to its 1889-1910 period of significance, in keeping with the U.S. Secretary of the Interior standards. Once reopened, the Chapel will be used it as the veterans who built it intended—for veteran funerals, solace, and counseling, as well as for multi-denominational and community events. The Chapel will also house historic displays and serve as a center point for tours of the National Soldiers Home Historic District.

 “We began Phase I as we are raising the funds for remaining phases because the Chapel roof simply could not wait any longer. You could see light from inside the Chapel, literally,” explains Soldiers Home Foundation president Kristin Gilpatrick. “We are confident in taking the first big step toward restoring this culturally, spiritually, and historically significant building, a historically, architecturally, and spiritually treasured place.”

For details on the Chapel project, to make a donation, or learn how to help, visit www.soldiershome.org, call 414.383.1867, or contact Foundation president Kristin Gilpatrick at kristin@heronextdoor.com.

For media interviews or to schedule:
Contact Kristin Gilpatrick @ 608.345.9621.