Media Alert

Talking Spirits Cemetery Tours Begin September 29 at Forest Hills Cemetery in Madison; Media Day October 1

Live actors portray World War II Veterans from Wisconsin

MADISON, September 22, 2025 —

Eighty years after then end of World War II, the stories of our Greatest Generation have not been forgotten. During the Wisconsin Veterans Museum 27^th annual Talking Spirits Cemetery Tours people will hear four featured vignettes about “World War II at 80: Paths of Perseverance“ as they walk through the historic grounds of Forest Hill Cemetery in Madison.

Stories included this year cover the perspective of a Jewish women serving in the U.S. Marine Corps Women’s Reserve, a U.S. Army bombardier who was a POW at Stalag Luft III for 50 weeks, a German POW held in Wisconsin who later settled in Madison and founded a granite-cutting business which involved building monuments to U.S. veterans, and a renowned doctor in the Pacific who survived Japanese attacks to save U.S. troops.

Beginning the week of September 29tn, approximately 1000 school-age children will go on the tour from schools across the state. On the weekend, tours are open to the public. Tickets are sold out for public tours. A few school tours remain available.

WHAT:           

Cemetery tours featuring live actors telling the stories of select Wisconsinites who experienced World War II.

WHO:             

Annette Howards played by Mary Wallin of Madison:  Annette Mildred Ruth (Schubert) Howards (1923-2013) was born in the Bronx, New York. She joined the U.S. Marine Corps Women’s Reserve in 1944 and was stationed in California throughout WWII. Howards tells the unique story of a Jewish woman serving in the Marines during WWII. Her post-war life in Madison and commitment to social justice was largely influenced by her military experience.

John G. Scocos Sr. played by Stuart Mott of Milwaukee: John G. Scocos Sr. (1918–2004) of Fond du Lac, WI, served as a WWII Army Air Corps bombardier flying numerous missions across Europe. Shot down in 1944, he endured life as a POW at Stalag Luft III where he was held for 50 weeks. He tells the story of life as a POW including liberation by the 3rd Army. A lifelong VFW, AMVETS, and American Legion member, he left a legacy through his service.

Kurt Pechmann played by Jim Ross of Stoughton: Kurt G. Pechmann (1922–2009) was born in Silesia (now Poland) and apprenticed as a stonecutter before being drafted into the German Army during WWII. Captured in 1943, he was brought to POW camps in Wisconsin and Illinois where he grew to love and admire the United States. After the war, he immigrated, settled in Madison, and founded a granite-cutting business making monuments. Pechmann used his skills to give back, creating memorials to honor U.S. veterans across the state.

Dr. J. Leroy Sims played by Dave Pausch of Madison: Dr. John Leroy (J. Leroy) Sims (1912–1999) was a distinguished gastroenterologist, WWII veteran, and member of the U.S. Army’s 44th General Hospital, which played a pivotal role during the Pacific campaign. Sims served in the Philippines, where the 44th faced dire circumstances during the Japanese counterattack on Leyte in 1944. In what became known as the Battle of Buffalo Wallow, the hospital staff upheld their commitment to saving lives while navigating life-threatening challenges.

WHEN:

Media Day: Wednesday, October 1 from 9am - 2pm

 WHERE:

Forest Hill Cemetery
1 Speedway Road
Madison, Wisconsin

RSVP TO:

Jen Stevenson, Marketing Specialist, Sr.
Wisconsin Veterans Museum
(608) 224-9653 or (608)264-6086
Jennifer.stevenson@dva.wisconsin.gov