Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: LaMarche, Lykes, Rose, Seelow, Kolano
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 6/14/2017
Veterans Cemetery Project (Cemetery Flags – 2017)
Veterans Cemetery Project Gains Steam in Area
An illuminated American Flag was posted at the Pine Valley North (shown above) and Pine Valley South cemeteries in September 2016 as part of the Veterans Cemetery Project. DeWayne Seelow of the Neillsville VFW Post 2241 spearheaded the fundraising effort, with cooperation from the Pine Valley Town Board. (Photo by Todd Schmidt/Clark County Press)
By Todd Schmidt
Continuing the spirit of Flag Day June 14, the Veterans Cemetery Project (VCP) organization is seeking to honor fallen comrades by flying a U. S. Flag in every cemetery where a veteran is laid to rest.
As of Thursday, the VCP had installed 58 illuminated flags at various places, including Clark County cemeteries located at Dells Dam, Town of Levis, Beaver Creek, Lynn Dairy Lutheran, Town of Seif, Columbia, York Center, Town of Irving, Town of Pine Valley North and South, and Jackson County cemeteries located at Knapp, Town of Northfield, Stanford, and Shamrock in Alma Center, Oxbow in North Bend, French Creek, and Little Norway Lutheran in the Town of Albion, and Trout Run in the Town of Irving.
Co-founder Russell LaMarche said Thursday it all started when he observed a broken flagpole in the Marion Township Cemetery near Mauston.
“The flagpole was broken laying on the ground, and the flag was tattered and torn. I picked up the flagpole, leaned it against a tree, removed the flag, and took it for proper disposal,” LaMarche said. “I then took that flag down to the Brown Bar and some of my friends were in there, and I said, ‘Look at what someone did to this flag, and we got to do something.’”
LaMarche said the project started small, leaving jugs at local taverns with a note saying what the collection was for. Then the project took off.
Several service organizations assisted in raising funds, and placing flags, including Lions Clubs in Juneau and Adams counties. LaMarche continues to work with legislators to get a low passed requiring flags to be flown in every cemetery throughout the country.
LaMarche has a special connection with the Rose Cemetery in the Town of Lemonweier near Mauston. His parents, Robert and Kathleen, are buried there.
Several years ago, American Legion Post 81 officially dedicated the flag there.
“My dad, who served in World War II, instilled patriotism in the four boys and two girls in our family,” LaMarche said. “We attended veteran events all day long when we were kids. All four of us boys served in the military.”
There are several other World War II veterans and a Civil War veteran, Byron P. Lykes Sr., buried in Rose Cemetery. The cemetery was named after the Rose family, which started it four generations ago.
In that same essence, DeWayne Seelow, former commander and now quartermaster of Neillsville VFW Post 2241, and Bishop Kolano, chairman of the Town of Pine Valley, worked together to place illuminated flags at the Pine Valley North, and Pine Valley South cemeteries. The flags were placed in September 2016.
LaMarche said it costs about $400 to install each unit, including the cement base, pole, solar lighting apparatus and the flag.
Seelow personally contributed $200, as did Post 2241, Urban Sales, and the Sons of the American Legion. Kolano said the Pine Valley Town Board also kicked in $200 to help offset expenses and provide a little extra to the VCP for more flag projects.
“There are a number of veterans buried in both cemeteries,” Seelow said Friday. “The American flag reminds people they have a lot to be thankful for. The flag shows respect. Seeing the flag flying at the cemeteries puts people in a good mood.
“We decided to get on the bandwagon and participate. Small flags are put out on veterans’ graves for Memorial Day. Flags bring awareness of the deceased veterans’ sacrifice for their service.”
Seelow said he didn’t want to burden the township with the expense of installing the illuminated flags. He said the VCP people did most of the work, with a little assistance from the Pine Valley patrolman.
Kolano said the Pine Valley South Cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries in Clark County, with three graves of Civil War veterans.
“The flags are a wonderful thing,” Kolano said. “Pine Valley will maintain them at our cost. It is just something we should do.”
Kolano said he had received comments from a few township residents remarking about how nice the flags look.
For more information, contact LaMarche at 608-584-4497, or via email at veterans.cemetery.project@gmail.com.
