​Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall dedication took place at Aero Park, located at 984 Boomer Street in Watertown, on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25th, 2026.
​
This event marks the permanent installation of the largest exact mobile replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, originally located in Washington, D.C., now proudly situated in Watertown. It is the largest Midwestern replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial located north of St. Louis.
​
Keynote remarks were delivered by Daniel J. Seehafer, the 2023–2024 Past National American Legion Commander. An ordained minister from Wisconsin, he served as a chaplain in the U.S. Navy and Navy Reserve before dedicating decades of leadership to The American Legion at every level, including national chaplain and department commander of Wisconsin. A passionate advocate for veterans and their families, Seehafer continues the Legion’s “Be the One” mission to prevent veteran suicide. He lives in Wisconsin with his wife, Stacy, and their family.
​
Distinguished guests included State Senator John Jagler, State Assemblyman William Penterman, Watertown Mayor Robert Stocks, and Miss Teen Wisconsin Natalie Popp, who sang the national anthem.
​
Additional speakers included Barry Lawrence, the engraver of the memorial wall; Gary Stueber, Commandant of the Marine Corps League Detachment 349 and Co‑Chairman of the event; Ryan Hepp of Jerry Hepp Excavating, the general contractor for the project; and Stephen Zillmer, Commander of American Legion Post 189, Co‑Chairman and Chairman of Fundraising.
The ceremony featured a flyover by an F‑35 fighter jet thanks to Air Force 378th Fighter Squadron Commander Lieutenant Colonel Zachary Krueger, and a UH‑60M Black Hawk helicopter flown by CW4 Shannon Bohlman and CPT Starke of the 1‑147th AHB, WIARNG, to honor the bravery and sacrifice of Vietnam veterans.
​
Donor categories are as follows:
​
5 Stars: $50,000 or more
4 Stars: $25,000–49,999
3 Stars: $10,000–24,999
2 Stars: $5,000–9,999
1 Star: $1,000–4,999
No Stars: $1–999
​
There is a donor plaque onsite.
​
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall Committee Members: Ryan Hepp, Barry Lawrence, Gary Stueber, and Stephen Zillmer.
​
We invite you to gather in this significant space dedicated to commemorating the courage and legacy of Vietnam‑era veterans. This memorial provides veterans and their families with a place for camaraderie, healing, and reflection.
Historic Initiative:
Fundraising For Watertown, WI’s Mobile
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Pictured: Barry Lawrence at the dedication event
Watertown Pitterle-Beaudoin Post 189 of the American Legion Commander, Stephen Zillmer, is driven to see the largest mid-western replica, north of St. Louis, Vietnam Veterans Memorial installed in Marine Corps League’s Aero Park. Legion, League, and other military organizations are closely collaborating, galvanized to build a place that honors the valor and histories of Vietnam era veterans. A place where veterans and their families may share fellowship, healing and remembering in the presence of a poignant memorial. For Zillmer, it’s about serving veterans first, the whole purpose of Post 189’s efforts.
Watertown’s own, Vietnam Marine Corps veteran and Purple Heart recipient, Barry Lawrence, engraved the replica. His passion for art and illustration led to him opening his own advertising business where he began honing his engraving skills. In 2010, American Veterans Traveling Tribute enlisted his help for their first replica project. For Lawrence, its been “a tremendous honor.”
While the original Washington, D.C. memorial is made of Indian black granite, this replica utilizes 320 feet of quarter inch anodized aluminum, with 144 panels ranging from 2 to 8 feet in height. The 80% scale replica features over 58,000 names of those classified as dead, missing, or prisoners of war. Lawrence’s 2nd created replica, it’s traveled to over 350 cities across the nation. Inscribed names are fashioned after the original Optima typeface. Lawrence said it was a painstaking process of aligning the names, making countless adjustments over eight months.
For Lawrence, it has been a labor of personal meaning and legacy. “In the next 100 years,” he said, “they won’t be remembered.” He views the memorial as essential to keeping society’s collective memory alive. “I have seven good friends on that wall, two from Watertown,” Lawernce said. He said that while working on the wall he would “get tight in the chest” thinking about his friends.
Lawernce isn’t alone. Vietnam veterans Larry Schultz, Air Force, and Richard “Red” Walter, Marine Corps, also mourn lost friends. Schultz called it a “heartbreaking” visual. Having the wall in Watertown would improve accessibility for mid-western veterans to “pay their respects closer to home,” he said. Walter called it a “worthwhile endeavor,” continuing, “It’s a great honor to have the wall come here.”
Photography by Miranda Weston, The Art of Life Photography