Chapter 437 Helps with Mixed-Media Mural Wall for Veterans

VVA Chapter 437 assisted with an artistic mural wall for alumni of Oshkosh High School and West High School in Oshkosh, Wisconsin who served in the military. 

The Oshkosh High/West Veterans Honor Wall has over 1,500 nameplates from former Oshkosh High School and West High School students dating back to 1894. The mixed-media mural is for those serving or who served in the military.

VVA Chapter 437 and Oshkosh West social studies and history teacher Andrew Schaller collaborated with local chapters of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, AMVETS and the Marine Corps League to collect names for the mural wall.

Schaller got the idea for the Oshkosh High/West Veterans Honor Wall after creating a similar project for his family. He accessed newspaper archives at his local library and used veterans organizations and their resources to fill in the gaps.

The mural wall will continue to be updated with names of future alumni who serve in the armed forces.

There was a Commemorative Ceremony at Oshkosh West High School on Veterans Day with addresses by U.S. Senators Ron Johnson and Tammy Baldwin; U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman; Wisconsin Veterans Affairs Secretary Daniel Zimmerman; and Brig. Gen. Steven Schaick, deputy chief of chaplains for the U.S. Air Force and Oshkosh West alumni.

The family of the only Oshkosh soldier still missing in action, U.S. Army Spc. 5 Richard Hentz, a military intelligence officer in Vietnam, cut the ribbon at the ceremony. Hentz disappeared March 4, 1971.

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