RECLAIMING OUR HERITAGE NEWS

May 31-June 1, 2008
Reclaiming Our Heritage and Civil War School Day is a living history event, with reenactments and encampments from all the major military eras in U. S. history, starting with the pre-Revolutionary War colonial militia up to the present era. This year Reclaiming Our Heritage salutes America's women veterans! The event is held on the Grounds of the National Soldiers Home on the grounds of the Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI. The event also is a resource for veterans...MORE

>>>Reclaiming Our Heritage 2008 Home Page

>>>Photos of Reclaiming Our Heritage 2005

State Register Lists Milwaukee Soldiers Home

On April 28, 2006, the National Soldiers Home Historic District officially was listed on the Wisconsin Historical Society’s State Register of Historic Places. >>>View Summary of our listing in the Register

The historic district, located on the grounds of the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, 5000 West National Avenue, in Milwaukee includes the majority of Wood National Cemetery, nearly 90 acres of historic grounds, and 25 post-Civil War era buildings, including the nation’s first newly constructed federal soldiers home, 1867-1869.

The application was presented to the State Register board by the Soldiers Home Foundation Inc., a 501(c)3 non-governmental non-profit organization whose mission is to protect, preserve, and further the history and veteran legacy of the district. The application was approved by unanimous vote. The Foundation’s application had already been approved for the National Register for Historic Places in June 2005 by the National Park Service.

Milwaukee Soldiers Home Listed on National Register - June 9, 2005
On June 6, 2005, the National Soldiers Home Historic District was officially listed on the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places. The historic district, located on the grounds of the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, includes the majority of Wood National Cemetery, nearly 90 acres of historic grounds and 25 post-Civil War era buildings, including the nation's first completed federal soldiers home, established 1867-1969.

The application was completed and submitted by the Soldiers Home Foundation early in 2005. The National Park Service announcement came one day after the successful staging of Reclaiming Our Heritage Multi-Era Encampment, an annual event sponsored by the Soldiers Home Foundation and hosted by the VA Medical Center.

A press conference was held at noon, June 9, on the steps of the original Soldiers Home, known as Old Main, to announce the listing and discuss the historic district.

"This prestigious listing recognizes the National Soldiers Home Historic District for the national treasure we know it to be," said Kristin Gilpatrick, president of the Soldiers Home Foundation.

"Not only will the listing raise awareness on a national level about Milwaukee's unique historic site and veteran legacy, but it will bring National Register protections that can help ensure that any development is in keeping with the historical and architectural majesty of the buildings in the district," added Gilpatrick. "The listing also opens the doors to additional grant moneys and opportunities as the Soldiers Home Foundation works to not only preserve and restore but to rejuvenate the historic district's buildings and grounds."

Soldiers Home Video Wins Telly!
Discover Media Show on Milwaukee Site Earns National Honor
Discover Media Works, Inc., of Milwaukee announced this week that its Discover Wisconsin “Soldiers Home” episode won a bronze (2nd place) Telly Award at the 26th Annual Telly Awards in April. This national competition recognizes outstanding local, regional, and cable television commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions. This year, there were more than 12,000 entries from all 50 states and 5 continents. The Soldiers Home episode received a score between 7.0 and 8.9 out of 10—representing only 18-25% of all entries.

The documentary-style program recounts the history of the National Soldiers Home Historic District in Milwaukee—one of three original federal soldiers homes created as a result of legislation signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1865. Milwaukee is the only one of the three whose original home (domiciliary) and recuperative village remain. The program also details the preservation, restoration and education efforts of the show’s sponsor, the Soldiers Home Foundation, Inc.

>>>View full text of Press Release [pdf]

View a clip from the show from Discover Wisconsin (requires RealPlayer - free...get it here)

Local History Detectives Hunt for Soldiers Home Post Cards, Document and Artifacts
New Society Assists Soldiers Home Foundation and Milwaukee VA

The Soldiers Home Foundation, Inc., announces the formation of the Soldiers Home Foundation Historical Society, a special interest group dedicated to hunting for artifacts and the sometimes elusive facts about the Milwaukee Soldiers Home.

Founding members of the group expressed the need to coordinate efforts to identify and protect artifacts related to the National Home. “It didn’t take us long to realize we were bidding against one another on e-bay,” one member noted. With the new spirit of cooperation, the group now makes every effort to see that materials related to the Soldiers Home make their way to the VA archives and that information is shared with the public through the Soldiers Home Foundation.
View full text of Press Release

To make a donation or pledge, fill out this FORM and return it to Soldiers Home Foundation, 5000 W. National Ave., P.O. Box 139, Milwaukee, WI 53295. For more information, please call (414) 383-1867.

Letters of Support for Chapel Restoration

What does the Soldiers Home Chapel mean to you? What part did it play in your life or in the history of your veteran or community group? Why do you think it should be preserved?

Let us know what you think and how you would use the restored Soldiers Home Chapel. Would you attend a religious service there? Choose it for the funeral of a beloved veteran? Celebrate a wedding anniversary, renew you wedding vows, plan a military wedding? Would you join us for a concert of sacred or patriotic music, attend a lecture, view a special exhibit related to the Chapel or to the men and women buried in Wood National Cemetery?

Write a letter on your personal or business stationery and send it to: Chapel Campaign, Soldiers Home Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 139, Milwaukee, WI 53295.

June 1-3, 2007
RECLAIMING OUR HERITAGE and CIVIL WAR SCHOOL DAY 2007 - SEE HISTORY UNFOLD on the grounds
of the NATIONAL SOLDIERS HOME HISTORIC DISTRICT.

Great opportunities for your business or organization! Sponsorship packages and reasonable ad rates. Contact Kristin Gilpatrick at (608) 347-7340..