LA CROSSE, Wis. — After years of research, and raising lots of money, a memorial dedicated to veterans of the Vietnam War is now a reality.

The memorial at Veterans Freedom Park in La Crosse, Wis. didn't happen overnight. It took hundreds of thousands of dollars and a whole lot of hope from a high school student.

Jordan Briskey had his sights set on the project since 2016 when he was a freshman at Holmen High School and realized his local community lacked a memorial. 

Jordan Briskey, who organized the war memorial project, chats with a community member after Thursday's dedication ceremony in La Crosse, Wis. (Spectrum News/Anthony DaBruzzi)

“From the perspective of a 15-year-old, going up to people and asking for money, they were hesitant at first,” Briskey explained.

The day was years in the making for Briskey, but the road to get there was a bumpy one.

“We had the pandemic, you know; you just had to be patient,” Briskey said.

However, patience paid off Thursday for the now 20-year-old, as a Vietnam War memorial was officially dedicated in the La Crosse community.

Veterans and community members gather for a dedication ceremony at Veterans Freedom Park in La Crosse, Wis. (Spectrum News/Anthony DaBruzzi)

“This is not an Eagle Scout project, not an exit school project, I also have no military family either,” Briskey said. “It's just something that you figure a place would have a memorial, and I decided to step up to the plate.”

Life-size statues of soldiers, and a half-circle wall with the names of the 1,239 military personnel killed in action, grace the grounds of the park.

Vietnam War veteran Don Weber said he hopes it inspires another generation to fight for freedoms many take for granted.

Veteran Don Weber talks with community members after Thursday's dedication ceremony. (Spectrum News/Anthony DaBruzzi)

“Growing up on a farm, and the Marine Corps, gave me so much structure and shaped my life in ways I wouldn't be where I am today,” Weber said. “And he's [Briskey] gone through that at this young age, and he now sees if you really believe in something, you have to have the will to try it and, more importantly, the faith to believe it's possible.”

One of several statues a part of the new Vietnam War memorial in La Crosse, Wis. (Spectrum News/Anthony DaBruzzi)

With the finishing touches complete, Briskey now hopes his efforts reach far beyond the Coulee Region.

“This memorial is for all veterans across Wisconsin,” Briskey said. “Someone from Green Bay can come down here and pay respects to their loved one, friends, or colleague.”

You can visit the memorial at Veterans Freedom Park near downtown La Crosse.