BVF Goals

The Berlin Veterans Foundation, Inc. initiative is to foster a culture of citizenship, service and responsibility, and to help all Americans to answer the question: “is freedom really free?”

PHASE 1: COMPLETED! MONUMENT, FLAG POLL & 2 BENCHES
PHASE 2: We are currently in the process of obtaining ideas from the community as to what they would like to see for phase II.
Design: The memorial’s design is Pentagon shaped, consisting of five wide black American-made granite winged walls which semi-surround a free standing American-made granite monument topped with a globe. The area will be enhanced with greenery, benches and a lighted flag display will be placed behind the pentagon walls.
Construction: The memorial will be entirely constructed with American-made granite. The base upon which it will rest, will be deep laid concrete.
Location: RIVERSIDE PARK: The memorial will be in a serene location, handicapped accessible and near to restroom, picnic and playground facilities with abundant parking available for ceremonies.

Getting things done: After forming a group of founders, legal advice was obtained and IRS status as a 501(c)(3) Public Charity was procured. Certificate of Exemption was acquired from the State of Wisconsin. The City of Berlin was approached and the project passed through the Park & Recreation Department, the City Planning Commission and the Common Council. We were granted green space to replace a volleyball court in Berlin’s own 38 acre Riverside Park, south of the North Shelter house for the location of the memorial.

Strengthening Communities: Berlin is a small town community with a population slightly over 5,000 and centrally located in the State of Wisconsin. It is approximately 90 miles to Green Bay, Milwaukee, Madison and Wausau and 18 miles west of Oshkosh in the heart of the Fox River Valley. Members have been visiting local businesses and organizations in near by towns detailing the memorial project goals and our local newspaper has graciously published many veteran stories and provides fantastic coverage for us.

Veteran Recognition: The Data Collection Committee has been available weekly and has collected information on over 700 area veterans. A PowerPoint presentation was viewed on Berlin Cable 19 over Veteran’s Day weekend and honored over 700 veterans. Memorial eligibility: Berlin area service men and women from Civil War veterans to present service members, who have honorably served our country in every way. Be it in peacetime or war, including all branches of the service such as Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines and their affiliated reserve units.

Member Development: The Foundation ended 2006 with over a 120 members and anticipates that number to grow in 2007. Membership age varies from age 3 to age 80 plus.