Marine Veteran, Vietnam Veteran. , Charter member Veteran’s Memorial Committee, Hales Corners, WI
The American Legion Post 299 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10394, both located in Hales Corners, Wisconsin, decided to join together on a project. Their desire was to finance, plan, and build a veterans memorial. The first step was to get a committee together consisting of members of each group. I am proud to say that I am one of the original members. After a few meetings we realized we needed more help. We needed architects, bankers, construction companies, and someone experienced in the ways of government.
One of the volunteers was Donald G. Schwartz. He is a Hales Corners Village Board Trustee. His expertise was in the public and private sectors. Not an easy job. Don assisted in every aspect of the building of the Veteran’s Memorial. He attended many meetings on his own time, usually at night. He applied for and received the various permits. He laid out the timetable for every project and he let us know who to contact and when to contact them. He made things happen at all levels of government and in the private sector. Two of Don’s successful public assignments were to assist in the organization and emcee both the groundbreaking and dedication ceremonies. We broke ground on September 11, 2011, we started construction in April of 2012, and the dedication was May 28, 2012.
Prior to the ground breaking ceremony Don contacted local, state, and national politicians and arranged from them to participate and to speak at this event. He set the program and emceed the ceremony.
In planning for the dedication ceremony in May, 2012, Don again contacted the various community leaders, police and fire departments, local high schools, and several veterans groups to participate in the event. He assigned responsibilities to each group. He created an agenda and communicated this to everyone. On the morning of the dedication he made sure each group was in their assigned place and they knew what needed to done. Again Don was the emcee for this ceremony. It started on time and it progressed with dignity and reverence.
Don is not a military veteran. After working with him the members of the Veterans Memorial Committee realize he has a great respect for any man or woman who has served their country with honor. He continues to be active on the Veteran’s Memorial Committee. He has and continues to contribute to the success of the Memorial and to the citizens of Hales Corners, Wisconsin.
