Welcome Penelope

Welcome Penelope

 Meet our new kitten.

Penelope has stolen our hearts.

 Of course she has a story to go along with moving in with our family.

During my week on my Meals on Wheels route, while stopping into the kitchen to pick up the meals, one of the cooks mentioned she found a kitten on the side of the road. She said it was Siamese and just the sweetest thing. She asked if I knew of anyone who would like a Siamese.

She showed me a few photos of her and I knew right away who would love to have her, me.

Jane brought her to our home and showed us the wounds she had. We all felt she must have been hit by a car. My dad helped us clean her wounds. She would purr when we cleaned her wounds and put her medicine in her ears. She had mites in her ears. They were so gross!!  

She slowly began to heal. She began to eat more and more. 

She got stronger and stronger.

Then one day, we knew she would be okay. We all gave a cheer.

She loves her pet (fake) mice, cozy rugs and sitting on your lap.

 

11.11

In  honor of today, I am sharing a journal post my son wrote. I asked if I could share it. It has to do with the visit that we took to The Highground.

The Highground is a 155 acre memorial park located in Neillsville, Wisconsin. It pays tribute to veterans of all major 20th and 21st century wars that the United States has participated in. They have monuments dedicated to all of these major conflicts, including the ongoing War on Terror. They have also left space on their Korean War monument for when the conflict is over and peace is secured. I particularly thought that leaving that space open was very thoughtful of them, it shows the level of concern that the builders of this park have towards these conflicts and the care they show to those who were involved. Very touching.

The park is quite adamant about being known as a Veteran's Memorial Park, rather than a War Memorial. I respect that about the park. Multiple efforts have been made to make this park especially dedicated to veterans. One of the coolest gestures to this, is the WW1 doughboy statue. Most of the doughboy statues in the United States are posed with their rifles at the ready and their hand posed ready to throw a grenade. Highground changed their statue to show the doughboy holding his rifle by the front stock, with his hand out in a gesture of greeting to all whom enter the park. The staff has done an amazing job of making the park a special place for veterans. 

A very stirring PTSD walking path is located in the woods. 

The Learning Center is a building located outside of the main park. It has over 4,000 books available, a computer area, and room dedicated to all the soldiers from Wisconsin who have died in recent conflicts. 

My time at The Highground Memorial Park helped me to truly appreciate the sacrifice that so many brave men and women have made for this country. It was an eye opening experience that I would recommend to anyone who is a veteran or not.

Sam TePaske

 

On the Road Friday ~ The Highground Verteran's Memorial Park ~ part 2 ~

 Welcome to On the Road Friday.

Over the Labor Day weekend our family visited The Highground Veterans Memorial Park.

~ read part 1 ~

The Highground is a special park. It seeks to continue to focus on the healing for all who come, regardless of the name of the battle which left scars.

It is the vision of The Highground to honor human courage and sacrifice wherever it is displayed, without either denying or glorifying the pain and suffering of war and of life.

 Kilroy Was Here

During World War II this was the symbol for the American Serviceman.

 Wisconsin Persian Gulf Tribute

An honor for our newst veterans. The mission reads " May this tribute honor all branches of America's Military who served through multiple conflicts in the Middle East while marching forward in the Global War on Terrorism and be a place of hope so that we do not walk past you but with you. Let this be an anchor for education and solace while securing in memory sacrifices made. With hope and prayer, the Wisconsin Persian Gulf Tribute will provide a safe haven for all to reflect and to heal." 

 Fragments

This was the memorial that really moved my heart.

The Vietnam Veterans Tribute

known as Fragments

is the first veterans tribute in the United States to include a women in the statuary. Under her poncho she carries the burden of the Wisconsin service men killed in Vietnam. The 1244 names are inscribed on the bundles of bamboo-shaped bronze rods in the back of the statue. They are interspersed with wind chimes ~ never meant to be read but to be voiced in sound so that the prayers left here go out to the hillsides and beyond. 

You will notice that not one of the figures in the statue is complete. They flow into one, much like war, each are dependent on each other and strengthen each other. The rifle is turned upside down - a sign that a Medivac is needed;  a piece of orange glass is seen as a reminder of Agent Orange. Many veterans gave their lives afterwards as a result of exposure to toxic chemicals.

The artist did not sign the statue. "It was signed with the cost of things. It was signed in sound. It was signed by us all."

 

The U.S. Military is us. There is no truer representation of a country than the people that it sends into the field to fight for it. The people who wear our uniform and carry our rifles into combat are our kids, and our job is to support them, because they're protecting us. Tom Clancy
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/veteransday

 Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country’s cause. Honor, also, to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field and serves, as he best can, the same cause.

 -Abraham Lincoln

The U.S. Military is us. There is no truer representation of a country than the people that it sends into the field to fight for it. The people who wear our uniform and carry our rifles into combat are our kids, and our job is to support them, because they're protecting us. Tom Clancy
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/veteransday

The U.S. Military is us. There is no truer representation of a country than the people that it sends into the field to fight for it. The people who wear our uniform and carry our rifles into combat are our kids, and our job is to support them, because they're protecting us. Tom Clancy
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/veteransday

The U.S. Military is us. There is no truer representation of a country than the people that it sends into the field to fight for it. The people who wear our uniform and carry our rifles into combat are our kids, and our job is to support them, because they're protecting us. Tom Clancy
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/veteransday

The U.S. Military is us. There is no truer representation of a country than the people that it sends into the field to fight for it. The people who wear our uniform and carry our rifles into combat are our kids, and our job is to support them, because they're protecting us. Tom Clancy
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/veteransday