Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting to Honor Veterans and Their Service

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 1, 2011 

Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting to Honor Veterans and Their Service

(MADISON) — The most anticipated annual event at the Capitol will honor veterans and their service this year.  The Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place on Friday, December 2, 2011 at 8:15 a.m. in the Capitol’s Rotunda and will include items from the Wisconsin Veterans Museum’s collections.

Whether sending home souvenirs or a simple holiday card from the frontlines, Wisconsin service members have always maintained the traditions of the holiday season while serving overseas.  The Wisconsin Veterans Museum staff pulled a number of items with interesting stories relating to these holiday traditions from the collection this week in preparation for this event.  They include gifts sent to and from service members in the field, and over 90 Christmas cards, which will be placed on the Capitol’s Christmas tree.  In addition, the WVM staff developed some exhibit cases for display in the Rotunda.  Some of the items will include a cotton robe owned by a WWII fighter pilot, Fritz Wolf of Shawano, Wisconsin.  Fritz purchased this robe for his mother while stationed in Toungoo, Burma, near present-day Bangladesh.  In 1942, Wolf returned to a hero’s welcome after shooting down five Japanese aircraft with the “Flying Tigers” in Burma and China.  Also on display will be a necktie and garter set, which was never received by Wisconsin soldier Elmer Miller, as he was killed in action between December 3 and 30, 1944.  The Army returned the unopened package to his wife. 

The Wisconsin Veterans Museum is a free public educational activity of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs and is located at 30 W. Mifflin St., across the street from the State Capitol.  For more information contact Jennifer Carlson, or jennifer.carlson@dva.state.wi.us, or go to www.wisvetsmuseum.com.

-30-

201 West Washington Avenue | Madison, Wisconsin 53707
1-800-WIS-VETS | WisVets@dva.wisconsin.gov | WisVets.com