MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee County War Memorial Center may lose its portion of county funding sooner than anticipated.
The memorial is a place filled with honor and integrity. Its goal is to keep history alive, and honor those who served the country and paid the ultimate sacrifice.
“It’s a place to reflect,” said Dan Buttery, president and CEO of the War Memorial Center. “It’s a place to honor and remember all those who never came home.”
Buttery is a combat veteran himself and takes pride in leading the center. He said maintaining the facility as a fitting tribute takes a lot of time, work and money.
He said he is worried about the future after recently being told that due to current revenue challenges with the county and state budgets, the War Memorial Center could lose county funding in four years. The funding was supposed to last another ten years.
“That would be absolutely devastating for the center,” he said.
The War Memorial Center is owned by Milwaukee County, and about 20% of the center’s overall funding comes from the county. That funding helps maintains the property. If it is taken away early, Buttery said many of the center’s outreach services and programs would likely have to be cut.
Retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Ann Knabe volunteers for one of the many programs at the War Memorial. She brings the “I Am Not Invisible” exhibit to schools throughout the area to showcase the challenges many women have faced in the military, and the many contributions they have made to our country.
She said cutting a program like this would take away from educating Wisconsin children about our veterans.
“It’s a program that touches the lives of thousands of young children every year,” Knabe said. “So that is a concern, because we want to keep the story alive, the ultimate sacrifice that many service members paid.”
Leaders with the War Memorial Center are asking county leaders for more time to build up public donations before funding ends early. The pandemic took a toll on charitable giving.
Buttery said the goal has always been to make the center self-sufficient in funding by 2033, which was part of its original agreement with Milwaukee County.
“We have freedom,” Buttery said. “We have everything we have, because of those men and women who didn’t come home. We can work through this, but it is a very beautiful and sacred place.”
Spectrum News has reached out to Milwaukee County leaders on the potential funding issue. Milwaukee County Supervisor Peter Burgelis recently proposed a resolution to help the War Memorial Center stabilize funding for the next five years.