OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — After two years of fundraising, a student-led project to install military flags in the Oshkosh North High School Veterans Courtyard came to fruition Tuesday.
Servicemembers and their families gathered with Oshkosh North students and staff and members of the Oshkosh community for a flag raising ceremony in which nine military flags were dedicated and flown for the first time.
Located near Oshkosh North’s east parking lot, the Veterans Courtyard was founded in 2020 as a tribute and symbol of appreciation to the school’s faculty and alumni who have served or are currently serving in the United States Armed Forces.
Each brick in the courtyard is inscribed with a veteran’s name and their military branch. What began as 58 bricks has now grown to 170.
Students in the “Oshkosh North Communities Program” spearheaded the flagpole initiative and spent the past two years working to accrue to $15,000 required to complete the project.
“The sense of fulfillment is extraordinary. It makes me extremely happy to see everyone come together and finally see the finished product,” said Anabel Mitchell, a senior at Oshkosh North involved in both the Veterans Courtyard and flagpole projects.
“We want to make the veterans feel good about themselves,” Mitchell added. “Just seeing them smile and knowing that they feel honored makes me feel good inside as well.”
Organizers said the addition of the flag poles enhances the visibility of the Veterans Courtyard and is another way to pay homage to the school’s servicemembers and the military branches they represent.
The nine flagpole sponsorships, listed in military order of flag precedence, are as follows:
- American Flag: The American Legion Family, Cook-Fuller Post 70
- Wisconsin Flag: Craig Johnson, in memoriam BW Keese (CPL), 1913, and AGW Johnson (COL), USMA, 1941
- POW-MIA Flag: Vietnam Veterans of America, Associate Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 437
- Army Flag: Lyle Eichhorst Family – Bruce ’74, Navy (PO2) – Bart ’76, Army (SSG) – Dean ’80 – Barbara ’84
- Marine Corps Flag: Marine Corps League Detachment #357 and Winnebago Unit Marine Corps League Auxiliary
- Navy Flag: Oshkosh North Class of 1973 and Class of 1986
- Air Force Flag: Paul Sonnleitner ’86 and family Kari and Sydney – in honor of William Sonnleitner (USAF)
- Space Force Flag: Communities Program at Oshkosh North
- Coast Guard Flag: Vietnam Veterans of America, Associate Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 437
Other major project partners include Zillges Landscape, Fireplace & Excavation, Pascarella Construction and Sommerville Flags.
