Institution

In 1925, several members of the Washington County Board of Supervisors began the planning phase of a county soldiers' memorial to be placed on the grounds of the Washington County Courthouse Square on 5th Avenue. The intent of the memorial was to memorialize the end of war, not the war itself and, "A Washington County Memorial Monument will not only be a tribute to the soldiers of Washington county who gave their livesin war, but to our disabled comrades and to the surviving soldiers, sailors and marines. It will also be a continual reminder ofthe	splendid patriotism of all the citizens of Washington County," (West Bend Pilot, 1925). In January of 1927, the County Board awarded a contract to L.P. Gehl &amp; Sons, Inc. of Hartford, WI, for their design of the monument at a cost of $4,000. The design included bronze plates with names of all veterans of the Civil War, Spanish-American War and World War I on its base. Along with County Board members, members from county Legion posts were assigned to manage the project.  It is estimated around 12,000 people attended the dedication of the first memorial on Memorial Day in 1927. The parade which accompanied the celebration was a mile long, and was the largest West Bend had ever seen with between 3,000 and 4,000 participants. Since it's dedication, a Memorial Day celebration has been held on the Veterans' Plaza, as well as smaller Veterans' Day and special and private memorials and dedications each year.

Our mission is to educate, preserve, interpret, and provide access to the history of Washington County, Wisconsin through our collections, archives and programs.&nbsp;

Washington County Veterans' Plaza is adjacent to the Old Courthouse Museum located at 320 S 5th Avenue in West Bend, WI. Originally known as the Soldiers' Memorial and dedicated in 1927, the name evolved to the Veterans' Plaza as the site grew. The first monument on the site was "The Spirit of the American Doughboy" statue designed by E.M. Viquesney, to commemorate soldiers, sailors and marines who served in the Civil War, Spanish-American War and World War I.


Work began on the Freedom Memorial in 2006. Designed to have space for more names at years pass, the centerpiece of the memorial is a bronze battlefield cross on which the fallens' dog tags are hung. The the four families who's son's names were initially inscribed were closely involved with the design of the memorial. As part of the project major landscaping of the area took place. Work included tree removal, enlarging the plaza and installing concrete, increasing ADA access, adding stone benches, new plantings and in ground accent lighting. The original estimates for the cost of the monument were $30,000 to $35,000. This estimate rose to around $150,000 once landscaping plans were included. The majority of funds for the project were from corporate and private donors, however the Washington County Board of Supervisors voted to contribute $15,000 to the project. Final costs were around $150,000 and included funds for future care of the Veterans' Plaza as a whole.

Unveiled on Memorial Day in 2008,  the most recent monument on the Washington County Veterans' Plaza was spearheaded by the West Bend American Legion Post 36. It is meant to commemorate United States armed service members from Washington County who have died in service to their country since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. 

Freedom Memorial

Managed by the Washington County Historical Society, this project also included installing pavers to enlarge the area around the statues. This allowed for larger gatherings on a hard surface rather than grass. WCHS fundraised about $44,000 for the landscaping portion of the plan. The landscaping included a widened pedestrian area on what was only a sidewalk to the Doughboy memorial, a seat wall and inlaid plaques donated by all of the area's veteran organizations. The monument itself was donated by a private consortium headed by Tom Rolfs.Each side of the monument has the names of those who were lost engraved on it. The bronze heads on the top of the monument represent the Navy, Army, Air Force and Marines and the seals of each armed force branch are positioned along the bottom of the plinth.Several hundred attendees were at the dedication on Memorial Day 1998. The program included a fly over by the Wisconsin Badger Squadron 6.

Opened in 1998, this monument is dedicated to those killed in service to the United States during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The four bronze heads represent each of the military branches. It was designed to complement The Spirit of the American Doughboy which honors those of earlier conflicts.

WWII, Korean War and Vietnam War Memorial after installation in 1998.

WWII, Korean War and Vietnam War Memorial

The Spirit of the American Doughboy statue was designed by sculptor E. M. Viquesney in 1920 and reproduced in many forms over the years. At least 153 full size statues were erected in the United States, and around 35,000 5 to 11 inch plaster figures were made and sold. In 1925, Washington County Board members began the process of creating a soldiers memorial. By 1927, they had chosen a plan put forth by L.P. Gehl &amp; Sons, Inc. of Hartford for an estimated cost of $4,000 which included The Spirit of the American Doughboy at its center. The County Board of Supervisors voted to dedicate $3,900 of the estimated $4,000 needed to the statue. When veteran names began to be recorded for bronze plaques attached to the statue's plinth, it was found that they had underestimated the number of veterans in the County and the cost rose to $5,300. Private citizens were asked to donate at least $2 each and even children were enlisted to raise funds and were asked to give between 2 and 10 cents each. The children's campaign contributed $253.47. One of the greatest challenges of erecting the memorial was gathering the names of all Civil War, Spanish-American War and World War I veterans from the County. Appeals were published in newspapers, announced at Legion meetings and sent through the mail. Although a great effort was put into including everyone, some names were left out. The statue was dedicated on Memorial Day 1927 to an estimated crowd of 12,000 people. The accompanying parade had 3,000-4,000 participants and stretched a mile long. It incorporated six bands, two drum corps, service men, firemen, school children, officials, Camp Fire Girls, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts and families of veterans. The statue was then unveiled and several speakers and bands played at the dedication program. The entire program was recorded on film, which was later shown at the Mermac Theater in downtown West Bend. In 1999 the statue was removed from its base and taken to Celestial Stone Foundry and Forge in Madison, WI for extensive restoration. The restoration found the statue was made of multiple sheets of brass which had been pounded into molds and fitted together. The ground on which the statue stands was filled with concrete. As the concrete expanded and contracted with the seasons, it caused the brass to split. By the 1960s, the statue had also been covered in gold paint and its bayonet was missing. Restoration work mended the splits, removed the paint, recast the bayonet and covered the Doughboy in a protective lacquer. The statue was returned to its plinth and was rededicated on Memorial Day in 2000.

Dedicated in 1927, "The Spirit of the American Doughboy" also known as the Doughboy Statue, was the first monument on what is today the Washington County Veterans' Plaza. It was intended to memorialize all veterans of the Civil War, Spanish-American War and World War I. The design of the monument was common following WWI.

The Spirit of the American Doughboy dedication, Memorial Day 1928.

"The Spirit of the American Doughboy" Memorial

Washington County Veterans' Plaza with the Old Courthouse Museum in the background, 2015.

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Washington County Veterans' Plaza

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