This week Thursday, November 11, 2021, is Veterans Day. And for this week's episode, I spoke with two well-known individuals who are constantly working to make a difference for our county’s Vets.

A few years ago, Justin and Ashley Reichert, County Executive Josh Schoemann and his wife Jodi, and a host of others put together an effort to ensure that we Forever Honor Our Washington County Veterans. Justin Reichert and County Executive Schoemann joined me this week to talk about their efforts, what Veterans Day means to them, and how we can support our area's veterans.

A couple of years ago, Justin and Ashley Reichert, County Executive Josh Schoemann and his wife Jody, and a host of other individuals put together an effort to ensure that we forever honor our Washington County veterans. Justin and County Executive Schoemann joined me this week to talk about those efforts, what Veterans Day means to them, and how you can help our local veterans.

Sure. Um, but, uh, yeah, that was my experience. So I left as a, uh, Sergeant E 5.

Multiple tours overseas, Middle East. Uh, was happy to, to, to serve in whatever fashion I could.

I tell people all the time that after that, I went from thinking about being a teacher, uh, to deciding to dedicate my life to the service and sacrifice, both of my Lord and my fellow comrades, many, some of whom never came home. And so that's what I'm doing now, uh, for the rest of my life, uh, trying to earn that sacrifice back and forever honoring our Washington County veterans was one small way for us to do that.

It was like environmental health or, or nothing. Right. That Those were the two choices. West Bend, Kewaskum, Slinger, West Bend, Kewaskum, Slinger, Kewaskum, Slinger, Kewaskum, Slinger, Washington County. How long was that? Just under 40 miles. And where did you walk from and to?

So, um, kind of, kind of by like Low Lake State Park on the southwest corner of that. Monchez, if anybody's familiar with Monchez. And then we made our way kind of on a diagonal all the way just east of Fillmore.

That was to, according to the website, so to create an endowment to perpetually honor our veterans grave sites and erect a memorial to those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. So let's talk about that first part of that mission. How is the organization honoring veterans grave

And right now, the, the county, Washington County, does pay for flags and, and markers at, at the gravestones for all veterans. It's something that's not guaranteed to always be there, and you know, I work on the, the Veterans Commission for Washington County as well, and You know, I think it started with Josh and Kurt kind of talking about it and turned into, you know, it's something that as, as veterans, that's something you never want to lose.

You don't want to have that taken away. And as we move on, we're just going to have more and more of those markers and flags that need to be out there. So for me, it was taking it, taking it out of the hands of the politicians or anyone that could change their mind at some point about giving this. West Bend, Kewaskum,

Cause it really took a team to make it all possible, but it was, it was important to us to make sure that we could. Keep that tradition going and do it perpetually.

Is that how that, that works?

Uh, and then they start actually taking them down right about now, uh, right before Veterans, right around Veterans Day, I should say. Okay.

And so that's kind of how we, how we landed there and, uh, you know, one thing led to another. And ultimately, obviously that beautiful facility was, was constructed and we're, we're proud to be part of it.

It's very classy, represents all five branches of the military, and it does so in a, a very beautiful and appropriate way.

And Justin, you've been helping, uh, now on, on the board at the Memorial and we obviously appreciate all your efforts as well. Yeah. Thank you. I was honored to be asked. Veterans Day is this Thursday. What does that mean to you? So, we'll start with you, Justin. We all knew Veterans Day as a kid, and growing up, and then, you know, pre you joining the military.

Now that you are a veteran, how's that changed for you and your mindset of what Veterans Day is between then and now?

So, you know, we did things, we recognized it, but it wasn't, As big of a thing. I didn't understand it or truly appreciate it as much as I did. Then after multiple deployments and, you know, like Josh said, people that didn't come back, you know, the people that did, it was a, it, you just had a different mindset then.

You know, obviously Memorial Day is for, you know, our fallen comrades that didn't make it. But then you look at all the people that did make it back, whether injured, you know, not injured, or anything like that, and you can appreciate that more. Going to Veterans Day functions or ceremonies, you know, looking around at the people and, I mean, you're surrounded by heroes.

You really are, you know, the veterans that served in any service, any branch, at any time. are truly heroes for what they've done. How about you, Josh?

At least I did when I was a kid. And I think what's changed for me, being a Veteran, is, you know, people used to say to me all the time when I got home, especially early on, like, Man, you've changed. And I always wanted to say, Yeah, no kidding. You know, like, uh So, everybody comes home with some baggage and, and sometimes that baggage is ugly and nasty and really hard to, to deal with.

And sometimes it's just heavy, that's, you know, it's just heavy. And so, I think Veterans Day is, is one of those days where you can pause and just reflect and appreciate no matter what type of luggage they're carrying, they carried it for us and just have an appreciation for that. And the farther along we get in society where you've got All these folks, you know, less than 1 percent of the population who served and that number gets fewer and fewer as the World War II generation in particular, unfortunately passes on.

It's just this smaller and smaller group of people who've carried so much of the load. I think it's important for the nation as a whole to stop and acknowledge that and respect that, you know, that's why we did it. You know, we don't want everybody to have to bear that, bear that burden. And so at least take a minute and acknowledge it and thank, thank those folks and.

That's what it means to me now.

We've got a lot of really cool resources, some stuff that's kind of a one time shot and other things that are more longer term. Helping organizations like Team Red, White and Blue or Team Rubicon, you know, which are really kind of international and sometimes some cases international. I mean, you can have a humongous impact, but I think identifying a vet that's, it doesn't even have to be a family member, but somebody, you know, and just.

I'm having a conversation. So many of the vets I know, one of the things that we did on our walk was, and most people probably don't realize this, is we, Justin and I carried 22 pounds out of recognizing the 22 veterans a day that commit suicide. And that number fluctuates. But I mean, that's, that's one of those examples of carrying that luggage that sometimes it just gets overwhelming.

And so, simply, finding somebody who you know or. or associated with and having a conversation with them and befriending them. You know, I talk all the time about loving your neighbor. It's really that simple. Put yourself in their shoes and have a conversation and that's it. But yeah, there's lots of ways, certainly getting active with the Veteran Service Commission or, you know, helping out the American Legion.

Simple as buying a brat at the VFW. It, it's a million little things like that, that make all the difference in the world.

You know, if I'm walking with my family and someone thanks me for my service, that shows a lot to my children and, you know, that's what we're doing it. That's why we deploy. That's why we did what we did. For the future and I think it says a lot that way like Josh said there's a lot of people that struggle you know, whether it's physically or mentally and just identifying that talking to people and Just asking people if they need anything

What do you guys see for the future of that?

Commonly hear about Josh and Jody and Ashley and I, but there were 10 people involved when we really did it. And, you know, they put in a lot of hours to, Kurt obviously put in a lot of hours and, and continued to well after the event, but I think, you know, Josh and I have talked about it before. You know, what can we do and who can we help?

It doesn't necessarily have to be the same position or the same thing. We do smaller things now. Uh, we did a shooting clays. This year, um, so that's something Kurt put through. Looking at doing that again next year and, you know, just getting that to a place where, you know, these flags, these markers, and then maybe something else down the road can be taken care of, can, you know, be an out for, for veterans in any kind of situation.

And so, you know, at least Beginning that conversation in public and seeing is that something we can get up and running and is forever honoring and the type of organization that can Fill out what that endowment needs to look like. Sure. Very much a possibility. So We're excited to get that conversation going, but it's always going to be about earning the service and sacrifice of our fellow veterans That's always where we want to focus.

And so It's to be determined, uh, what happens next, but it's always going to be, uh, that vision and that focus.

You guys obviously care about this very much and not only care about it, but put your efforts and time behind it. And that's, uh, we're, we're grateful for that. And, uh, it's great to have you both here. So,

The dollars that you talked about that we raised, I think eventually we got upwards of 150, 000 total for both of the causes that you talked about. I think that's just a good representation of if you need help, pick up the phone, reach out to a friend, like. The help is here in Washington County. People really care.

They truly do. Forever honoring our Washington County veterans is one small example of how. Great. Thank you both again. Thank you, sir. Thanks.

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