Latest news with #Menasha
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Menasha's Jefferson Park holds dedication for new pavilion & event space
MENASHA, Wis. (WFRV) – Jefferson Park in Menasha opened last year, but it's still celebrating some milestones. The Menasha community celebrated a dedication for the park's pavilion and event space on Thursday evening. The Cool Place in Pulaski seeks community help to stay afloat amidst business slowdown The celebration included live music and food trucks, as community members took advantage of some nice weather to go outside from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. A reconstruction on the boat launch nearby will also be conducted later in 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Isle of Valor hosts Armed Forces Day ceremony in Menasha, honoring those who served
MENASHA, Wis. (WFRV) – Veterans, families and community members gathered at the Isle of Valor across from Smith Park in Menasha to commemorate Armed Forces Day and honor those who have served in the United States military. The annual ceremony featured the raising of flags representing each branch of the military, with remarks from local veterans and officials. Former Packer helps give back to Green Bay community, packs 1,400 backpacks to fight hunger The event, organized by VFW Post 2126, is part of a nationwide tradition of honoring the men and women in uniform, past and present. 'By doing this, people are learning that the Armed Forces mean a lot more than just an Army guy, a Navy guy. It's a group of people that can get together for a day of reckoning in the Armed Forces,' said David Mix, Commander of Post 2126. Originally established in 1949 by President Harry S. Truman, Armed Forces Day was created to unify separate celebrations for the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force. The first national observance was held in 1950. Del Volpel, Director of the Winnebago County Veterans Service Office, said the event is a meaningful way to reflect on the sacrifices made by those who serve. 'Remembering folks that serve, that put on the uniform every day, that make sacrifices for this freedom—I think it's a wonderful opportunity today to do that,' he said. The Isle of Valor, often described as a 'military island' within the community, is significant for local veterans. 'The city lets us use this park and we can call it the Isle of Valor, even though it's in Menasha. Neenah-Menasha groups get together and do many things in this park,' Mix said. As flags were raised, veterans in attendance reflected not just on their own service, but on the commitment of those currently serving and those who never made it home. 'The best way to remember someone who was lost and can't come back is by having this day.' Mix said. Volpel added that showing support for veterans doesn't have to be complicated. Kaukauna hosts 6th Annual Breaking Boundaries Triathlon 'I think the opportunity to support veterans is something as simple as thanking them, something as simple as supporting local businesses that support veterans,' he said. The ceremony serves as a reminder that service and sacrifice are part of the community's fabric, and that honoring those who wear the uniform extends beyond just one day. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
Menasha cops and community rally for Special Olympics at Dunkin'
MENASHA, Wis. (WFRV) – The Menasha Police Department teamed up with Dunkin' to support Special Olympics Wisconsin in a fun and meaningful way. From 5 a.m. to 12 p.m., community members gathered at the Dunkin' on South Oneida Street to raise money and awareness for local athletes. The event, known as Cops on a Rooftop, is a community favorite. Local officers greeted guests, served breakfast, and encouraged donations, all while raising funds for a great cause. There was something for everyone, live music from Devin Thoreson played between 9 and 11 a.m., exciting raffle baskets were up for grabs, kids enjoyed a bounce house, and officers connected with the community while serving breakfast. Horicon golf course closes after tornado causes widespread damage Guests who made a donation received a free donut, and those who gave $10 or more walked away with a free coffee voucher. Families, friends, and first responders came together to show their support. Plus, Community Liaison Officer Roe went live on Facebook, giving viewers a peek behind the scenes. It's more than coffee and breakfast, it's a simple way to make a big difference in the lives of athletes with special needs. Want to see what you missed or still want to donate? Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hometown Heroes: Vietnam War Veterans Day is March 29, celebrating dedication and sacrifice
FREEDOM, Wis. (WFRV) – The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 declared March 29 the day we pay tribute to our Vietnam War veterans' unwavering courage, dedication and the countless sacrifices made by them and their families during one of the most challenging conflicts in our nation's history. Local 5 News has been telling the stories of Vietnam War and Vietnam Era veterans for years during our weekly Hometown Heroes series that airs every Friday at 6:30 a.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. Hometown Heroes: Menasha's Medal of Honor recipient Kenneth E. Stumpf The Fox Valley's Jerry Weyers remember the summer of 1967 very well. He calls it a turning point in his life. He attended his first two military funerals, hearing the sounds of the honor guard. It was then that he decided to leave his father's farm and join the Army. 'I knew the draft was getting hot and heavy,' Weyers told Local 5's Kaitlin Corbett. 'They're probably going to get me. So, I went and talked to my Army recruiter and he sent me down to Milwaukee, to take the test.' That test landed Weyers in electronics school, where he was trained to be a microwave radio repairman and operator. But once he got to Vietnam, that job description changed. 'They didn't tell us that for every radio, you need a tower to send a signal. And they've got me up 30 feet in the air painting a water tower for them and what are they looking for? They're looking for somebody who's not afraid of heights.' Weyers' silo-climbing skills on the farm had now made him part of the radio tower team; a dangerous job, but one that he loved. 'If you think about it, building a radio tower, you're building a landmark for the bad guys to take pot-shots at you. But we didn't think about that, we were just doing our job for our country.' Weyers got out of the Army in 1970 and went on to work as an electrician. He joined the honor guard at the Freedom VFW and displays a yearly exhibit honoring veterans at the Freedom Area Historical Society. For close to five decades, Weyers has made it his mission to honor veterans in any way he can. One more you might not expect: through music. Weyers travels to assisted living facilities playing his music, honoring veterans with songs like Taps and Amazing Grace. 'It pays tribute to their service to our country. I think it's important, and we need to honor that. Until you've been through it, no one understands what it takes and what it feels like to serve your country.' Hometown Heroes: Menasha's Medal of Honor Recipient Elmer J. Burr Weyers does know what it feels like, and it's led him to where he is today. 'All those things kind of add up, and you become who you are and what you strive for, and sometimes things work out.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hometown Heroes: Menasha's Medal of Honor Recipient Elmer J. Burr
MENASHA, Wis. (WFRV) – Hometown Heroes is marking National Medal of Honor Day, March 25th, by sharing the stories of Menasha's two recipients. Pueblo, Colorado, is the only other city to have multiple recipients. 'The guys here were dedicated and fought just like anybody else,' said VFW Post 2126 Commander David A. Mix. 'You never know what's going to happen.' Menasha's Isle of Valor is a sacred place in Smith Park along Lake Winnebago. People come here to remember those who served, some who never made it back, and two in particular who received the Medal of Honor. They are Vietnam Veteran Kenneth Stumpf and World War II Veteran Elmer J. Burr. Local 5 News' 2025 Q1 Hometown Heroes Special 'It's a distinct honor having two,' added Mix who was part of the team effort among fellow veterans to enhance the property to include the wider community. He knew Stumpf but only heard about Burr. It was World War II, and according to the official Medal of Honor website and newspaper accounts at the time, Burr smothered a grenade explosion with his body in order to save his company commander on Christmas Eve, 1942. His tombstone at Oak Hill Cemetery in Wisconsin has him dying the next day. 'To save another guy ya know,' contemplated Mix. 'I don't even think he knew what happened. He went in right after school, going in to protect the country and then he did what he did.' The Post set out to make sure nobody would forget the stories of Menasha's heroes and worked years for the Isle of Valor to become a recognized historical site. Funerals, patriotic ceremonies, and even funerals happen here. 'I mean these families, they take it to heart,' added Mix who also is part of the Honor Guard which volunteers around the region at fellow veterans' funerals. 'When we get done doing a funeral, they're really happy we were there.' Hometown Heroes: Jesse Augustine of Saint Nazianz soared up the ranks of Wisconsin Army National Guard There are other stories of veterans told in bricks along the pathways and etched in stone on benches looking out onto the water. On a bitterly cold spring day, when the silence is filled by a sudden gust of wind, you're reminded this is a living, breathing monument to country and community. Mix says it has turned out as many of them envisioned. 'It's a secluded little place that you can come out there and sit there and look over the water.' He added that more and more people are purchasing the bricks to help with the upkeep. 'I don't know if in the real world if there's a lot of people who know Medal of Honor Day,' Mix acknowledged, 'All the guys who come out and do this stuff, it's because they want to give what they can for the families that lost people.' There is no formal ceremony on March 25th but there is always a special tribute to both Medal of Honor recipients during the popular, annual Armed Forces Day ceremony. Look for the story of 'Kenny' Humpf from those who met him, Monday on Local 5 News at 6 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
