Tomb of the Unknown Soldier replica allows Wisconsinites to see monument up close

DeForest, WI

Photo courtesy of Jeffrey Unger | Legionnaire Jeffrey Unger stands in front of the replica of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Wisconsin.

Every year since 2006, Legionnaire Jeffrey Unger dreams up a theme for the Memorial Day ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Park in DeForest, Wis. This year was no different — except the goal was to create a replica of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

While the DeForest Veterans Memorial Foundation approved the idea unanimously, Unger said, "They thought I was crazy."

This wouldn't be the first time the town pulled off a feat to honor veterans. In fact, the Veterans Memorial Park itself sits on what was once "literally a dump." Unger cofounded the foundation to make this transformation happen, and it has been hosting Memorial Day activities there since, with the Olson Grinde Post 348 and Auxiliary participating and performing.

"When we dug up dirt for the sidewalk to start putting the walkways down, we pulled up bones, car parts, bottles. You name it — we were picking it out of the dirt," Unger said.

With that same can-do spirit, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier replica project began.

Three men — Tim Powell, Carl Rehbein and Norm Puckett — from Calvary Gospel Church put in almost 500 hours to build the monument from steel beams, stucco-like material and foam. Jim Steffenhagen, a Vietnam veteran and Legionnaire at Post 360, did the monument's graphics.

The estimated weight is 1,200 pounds.

"I didn't want to cry in front of those guys," Unger said, "but I ended up crying because I just could not believe that we actually had pulled this together."

Unger asked Arlington, Va., for assistance — maybe even sending Sentinels to perform their duties at the Memorial Day ceremony. While Arlington National Cemetery was unable to spare Sentinels, who are on a tight rotation, they did share training materials, which the Wisconsin Army National Guard servicemembers who acted as Sentinels for the program studied.

Kalab Evans, a member of the Wisconsin Army National Guard, practiced for hours using that training material, Unger said. He performed the walk during the full hour-and-a-half ceremony.

Two days before Memorial Day, the team moved it to the display site.

At the Memorial Day event, the only differences between the replica and the original (besides location): There was no changing of the guard and the crypts were tilted slightly for readability.

Over the course of eight days during which it was first displayed, Unger said more than 3,000 people visited. At Operation Badger Base, where it was also displayed, he said an additional 10,000 people saw the monument.

Recreating a monument allows people unable to visit Washington, D.C., the opportunity to see the monument and pay respect, Unger said. He said a World War II veteran who had gone on an Honor Flight, but due to weather was unable to see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, was at the Memorial Day ceremony.

"A gentleman from behind me reaches forward, grabs my arm and slightly turns me, introduces himself as [Jim] Bartels and says, 'Jeff, I just want you to know, you did good,'" Unger said. He said Bartels was a tomb guard in 1959.

"The second reason we do it is because of that educational value. We as citizens today, it's our responsibility to teach America’s future that freedom is not free. It comes with a cost," Unger said.

The foundation is looking for a permanent home for the monument in Wisconsin and are actively in talks in this pursuit.

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