U.S. Navy 250 Birthday Celebration at the State Capitol
Wisconsin celebrates the 250th birthday of the U.S. Navy at the State Capitol Building.
Wisconsin celebrates the 250th birthday of the U.S. Navy at the State Capitol Building.
The Wisconsin Veterans Museum is proud to be a stop on the Science on the Square event brought to you by The Wisconsin Science Festival and Madison’s Central Business Improvement District. Join us in downtown Madison between 5 and 9 p.m. on Thursday, October 16, for fun for all ages! For more information about participating businesses and science experiences, visit the web page link below for details on all the stops.
As we approach the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, join PBS Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Veterans Museum for an evening of community and reflection. The night will include a special preview screening of the all-new documentary series THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt; the premiere of two new episodes of The Look Back produced by PBS Wisconsin Education; and a panel conversation exploring themes and untold perspectives related to the Revolutionary War era.
The Algerian War was a pivotal event in the global struggle for decolonization. In this discussion of his new book, Terrence G. Peterson highlights how the conflict also helped to transform the nature of modern warfare. As the French Army attempted to counter the struggle for Algerian independence, it fashioned a radical project of armed social reform that sought not to preserve colonial rule unchanged, but to refashion it for the Cold War era. As Peterson will make clear, French officers' efforts not only shaped how the Algerian War unfolded from its earliest months, but also helped to forge the paradigm of "modern" warfare that has so often dominated strategic thinking since: counterinsurgency. Presenter: Terrence G. Peterson, Associate Professor of History, Florida International University Sponsoring Organizations: War in Society and Culture Program, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Department of History, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Wisconsin Veterans Museum A reception will follow Professor Peterson's lecture in the Atrium adjacent to Howard Auditorium.
Grab some popcorn and a seat in your favorite chair and join us for a virtual discussion of the selected movie with the Wisconsin Veterans Museum staff. For October, we will discuss the 2024 film Edge of Tomorrow. Your mission is to watch the movie, which is available from most libraries or on streaming services (we will not be watching the movie the night of the program). On October 31st, 2025, at 7:00 pm we’ll all meet via Zoom for a discussion led by museum staff. This event is free and open to the public. Register here.
Honoring Service. Inspiring Community. This fall, we are proud to present the 2025 Convoy Speaker Series in partnership with Rock County—an event designed to honor Wisconsin’s veterans, connect our community, and share stories of courage and sacrifice. 📅 Saturday, November 1, 2025 📍 The Beloit Club – Beloit, WI Featuring Keynote Speaker Major General (Ret.) Marcia Anderson A Beloit native, MG (Ret.) Anderson made history as the first African American woman to achieve the rank of major general in the U.S. Army. Her distinguished career, spanning nearly four decades (1979–2016), is a story of perseverance, excellence, and trailblazing leadership. In her keynote address, MG (Ret.) Anderson will reflect on her journey, her family’s military tradition, and the lessons of resilience and leadership that continue to inspire. Event Schedule 10:00 AM– VIP Reception & Meet-and-Greet 11:45 AM– Lunch Service 1:00 PM– Keynote Address by MG (Ret.) Marcia Anderson An expected 200 guests will attend, including veterans, community leaders, military officers, and business professionals. Support the Convoy Speaker Series We invite you to join us in honoring our veterans by supporting this important event. Your sponsorship ensures that the powerful stories of Wisconsin’s veterans are preserved, shared, and celebrated for generations to come. A big thank you to our current 2025 event sponsors! Four-Star Sponsors: ABC Supply, Blain Supply, JP Cullen, The Morse Group, Rock Road Companies Three-Star Sponsors: Ceroni Piping Company, Fairbanks Morse, Liz & Dennis Hansch, Lycon Inc., Nelson Young Lumber, Mid-State Concrete Industries, Westphal Two-Star Sponsors: Angus Young Architects, Mark & Carol Cullen, Dave & Christina Heiliger, Edgewood University Military & Veteran Services, DeGarmo Plumbing One-Star Sponsors: Angus Young Architects, County Materials Corporation, First National Bank & Trust Company, North American Mechanical Inc., Oakleigh & Tobin Ryan, and Peter Skelley
Celebrate the U.S. Marine Corps 250th birthday at the Wisconsin State Capitol Rotunda.
The Wisconsin Veterans Museum assisted The Kissers with content from the museum collection and stories of our veterans for their album and upcoming “rock and roll history show.” Based on the music of the award-winning album The Foe and the Fallen: Songs from The Greatest War (The Kissers, 2024), this multimedia “rock and roll history show” celebrates the lives of everyday Wisconsinites who lived during one of our nation’s most extraordinary times. They each did their bit in different ways. They served, they worked, they resisted; and did so with a passion and resilience that resonates still today. This performance is a redux version of The Greatest War: World War One, Wisconsin, and Why It Still Matters which debuted in 2018 to a sold out audience at the Barrymore Theatre in Madison, Wisconsin.
“Survivor's Story: George F. Banda's Heroic Service with the 101st Airborne in Vietnam” Thursday, November 13, 2025 5:30 PM – 8 PM George F. Banda was drafted in January 1969 and served as a combat medic with the 101st Airborne Division, 2nd Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, E Company, Recon Platoon. Deployed to Vietnam in December 1969, he endured some of the conflict's most harrowing moments. On May 6, 1970, Banda became the sole survivor of his unit following the devastating bombing of Firebase Henderson. At Mess Night, he will share his powerful story of service, sacrifice, and resilience. 5:30-6:15 - Happy Hour 6:15-7:00 - Dinner 7:00-8:00 - Presentation $50 MEMBERS | $58 NON-MEMBERS This event is sold out! Each MESS NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM features a guest speaker, topic, dinner, drinks, and time to socialize before and after the talk. Registration will be required before the event. Join us as we transform this historic naval tradition into our own. Event suitable for all ages. Event sponsored by the Wisconsin Veterans Museum Foundation through the generous support of our 2025 Mess Night Series Sponsor Generac Power Systems.
Join the waitlist for tickets. The event is sold out, but we can notify you if a ticket becomes available. Follow the registration link below to be added to the list. Please join the Wisconsin Veterans Museum for the film screening of the 32nd Infantry Division's Nightmare: The Battle of Buna. The U.S. Army's return to the offensive in the Pacific Theater occurred at the Battle of Buna. On that battlefield in New Guinea from 16 November 1942 until 22 January 1943, the untested 32nd Infantry Division fought alongside elements of the Australian Army's 7th Division against well-prepared elements of the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy. A nightmare unfolded for the histories retrace the experiences of the soldiers of 32 ID from its Wisconsin and Michigan National Guard origins, to Pearl Harbor, to training for war, and then to the battlefield. This is an in-person event and tickets are free but limited. Registration is required. Tickets can be found here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/film-screening-the-32nd-infantry-divisions-nightmare-the-battle-of-buna-tickets-1858240119219
Author and veteran Joshua Shores discusses his work, "Counting On Death: A Marine Infantryman’s Journey from the Frontlines of Combat to the Fight for Peace."
Grab some popcorn and a seat in your favorite chair and join us for a virtual discussion of the selected movie with the Wisconsin Veterans Museum staff. Your mission is to watch the movie, which is available from most libraries or on streaming services (we will not be watching the movie the night of the program). On March 27, we’ll all meet via Zoom for a discussion led by museum staff. This event is free and open to the public. You must register in advance here. Age Appropriate: This film may not be suitable for all ages as it depicts battle sequences, mild language, and alcohol and tobacco depictions.
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