Milwaukee, WI – This Veterans Day, the Descendant Community of the Milwaukee County Grounds Cemeteries, Inc., highlights ongoing delays in honoring Milwaukee County veterans, stemming from administrative obstacles and legal interference.
The Descendant Community notes that the delay is caused by the County’s failure to process applications and by actions of the Milwaukee County Office of the Corporation Counsel. These delays prevent veterans from receiving the recognition they earned and their descendants from achieving closure.
“The County has the ability to submit these applications to the Veterans Administration, but delays in doing so are denying veterans the recognition they deserve,” said Judy Houston, president of the Descendant Community. “Every day these memorials remain unprocessed is another day veterans and their descendants are left without the honor they earned.”
These delays have been compounded by misstatements regarding cemetery preservation rules, mischaracterization of lawful proposals, and obstructive actions from the Milwaukee County Corporation Counsel’s office. The Descendant Community emphasizes that installation of respectful memorial markers is fully compatible with state and County regulations.
The Descendant Community urges Milwaukee County officials to submit pending applications and move forward with the installation of all approved markers without further obstruction. “Each veteran deserves to be remembered with dignity,” said Houston. “Honoring their service is a matter of respect, remembrance, and justice.”
The Descendant Community of Milwaukee County Grounds Cemeteries, Inc. is dedicated to preserving the memory and dignity of those buried in the Milwaukee County Grounds Cemeteries. The community advocates for the respectful reburial of remains and works to ensure proper recognition of the historical and cultural significance of the cemeteries.
This Veterans Day, Milwaukee County honors the memory of its veterans, but for some, recognition remains stalled. In 2023, Milwaukee County installed five markers to honor veterans of the Civil and Spanish-American Wars, thanks to research by the Descendant Community. Another marker arrived late, and so was not ready for the 2023 Veterans Day memorial service; it has remained in storage. Additional research has identified three more veterans eligible for US Veterans Administration markers. These applications have been waiting for County officials’ signatures for more than a year, and legal guidance from the Milwaukee County Office of the Corporation Counsel has created obstacles that may prevent their approval entirely.
Read more about our work honoring veterans, and visit our virtual memorials to learn more about these and other veterans we have identified as being buried at Milwaukee County Grounds cemeteries:
The Descendant Community continues to have hope that the County will have a change of heart. We have identified descendants of the veterans awaiting markers and put one in contact with the County; we have not reached out to descendants of the other veterans, however, because we do not know how to formally recognize the veterans’ service given the County’s stance.
Background
A member of C.K. Pier Badger Camp #1, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, present a US flag to descendants of a Civil War veteran at the Veterans Day memorial service in 2023.
This past summer, the Corporation Counsel applied to elevate its own priority on the Register of Interested Persons from landowner to cultural interest, potentially undermining the Descendant Community’s legally recognized role in decisions regarding human remains. The sources cited to support this application are completely irrelevant, demonstrating either a misunderstanding of their own citations or disregard for the law’s purpose. This follows their repeated statements that the Descendant Community itself does not meet the definition for cultural interest.
Accusation of Illegal Grave Disturbing
Last month, the Corporation Counsel accused the Descendant Community of illegally disturbing Cemetery 3, claiming use of pitchforks and unlawful disturbance of graves. The August 2025 flooding unearthed gravestones, and our suggestion of using pitchforks to identify additional gravestones was purely hypothetical and contingent on Parks’ approval; no such action occurred. Placing of US and Wisconsin flags at markers (including those for veterans) and stone resetting complied with state preservation guidance regarding cemetery cleanup. The Corporation Counsel’s unfounded accusations distract from memorialization efforts and cast doubt on the Community’s lawful work.
A gravestone unearthed by the August 2025 flooding.Gravestone cleaned and marked with a US flag.
It bears repeating that the Corporation Counsel’s letter treats a purely hypothetical suggestion—using pitchforks to probe the ground for hidden gravestones—as if it had actually taken place, portraying lawful, conditional planning as misconduct punishable by law. It is unclear how the Corporation Counsel so grossly misread our letter. This misrepresentation exemplifies the broader pattern of misconstruing the Descendant Community’s lawful preservation efforts, calling into question the reliability of the Corporation Counsel’s guidance.
Court Actions
Two ongoing legal cases initiated by the Corporation Counsel continue to threaten the approved reburial plan. While the Descendant Community is not a direct party, these actions put veterans’ recognition at risk and create unnecessary delays, driving up costs without advancing historical or public interests.
Future veterans markers could be installed at Forest Home Cemetery near the 831 Ancestors that are planned to be reinterred there. This is not currently feasible due to the drawn out legal appeals.
The Corporation Counsel has tried to use these issues as leverage to negotiate the reburial plan, but we have no authority whatsoever to amend the approved plan. Their appeals have been rejected at every stage, and it is unclear what outcome they expect—except for a delay to cause the plans to become unfeasible due to changing circumstances.
Misstated Legal Guidance
By substituting a subjective interpretation for legal analysis, and failing to read the second item in a four-item list, the Corporation Counsel has effectively paralyzed efforts to honor veterans who served this country. The County’s duty to preserve the burial sites is not in conflict with its moral and civic obligation to recognize those buried there. Additionally, conservation requirements enacted by the County do not in fact prohibit installation of memorial markers, as the Corporation Counsel claims.
Definition of Disturbance
In April 2024, the Corporation Counsel issued a letter claiming that Milwaukee County’s only responsibility regarding veterans buried at the County Grounds is to receive “proper and decent care”, and to avoid “disturbing” the graves. The letter further argued that terms such as desecrate and disturb are subjective, warning that what one group considers respect might be viewed as desecration by another, even suggesting that “placing a grave marker for a veteran over the final resting place of a committed pacifist would be considered desecration by many”. While one might prefer that markers be placed at the correct gravesites, it was the County that lost the cemetery maps, making such precision impossible; in any case, the grave might have been destroyed or disinterred by previous construction projects. Cenotaphs (monuments honoring those whose graves are elsewhere or unknown) have existed since Ancient Greece. The Corporation Counsel’s example, therefore, misses the point entirely.
A memorial marker for a Civil War veteran installed by the County, which the Office of the County Corporation Counsel would now seem to believe was a desceration and a violation of conservation restrictions on the County Grounds.
The Corporation Counsel’s reasoning is both irrelevant and absurd. Their suggestion that honoring veterans might constitute desecration bears no relationship to the County’s actual obligations under state law. The statutes do not forbid respectful commemoration; they prohibit physical disturbance of burial sites and human remains. The letter’s attempt to blur that distinction misstates the law and undermines the purpose of both the Burial Sites Preservation statute and Wisconsin’s long tradition of veteran memorialization.
Indeed, Wisconsin law places a positive obligation on counties to apply for VA markers for veterans who died while living in the county. This obligation exists regardless of who owns the cemetery. While an argument could be made that this does not apply to historical burials, the most natural reading of the Corporation Counsel’s argument would be that this obligation does not exist at all.
If placing cenotaphs for US veterans—or placing US and Wisconsin flags at gravestones—is to be considered desecration, what then should be said of the County’s own history of bulldozing graves for buildings and paving roads over others?
County Grounds Conservation Restrictions
The same letter also misrepresents the County Board’s 2020 conservation restrictions, asserting that they prohibit “any structures other than mowed areas, parking lots, benches, and picnic tables”. In fact, the restrictions explicitly allow “interpretive signs, kiosks, observation platforms, and boardwalks”, among two other sets of exemptions.
The 2023 installation of five markers—arranged by the County and facilitated by County funding—demonstrates that such memorials are fully compatible with both the restrictions and the law. It is difficult to say how the Corporation Counsel’s summary of the conservation restrictions came to be so incomplete, but it appears to be part of a pattern. One can only hope that greater care is exercised in their other official duties.
Conclusion
C.K. Pier Badger Camp #1, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, members fire rifles in salute at the Veterans Day memorial service in 2023.
This Veterans Day, we are reminded not of new installations, but of the veterans still waiting for recognition. The Descendant Community continues its work to honor those who served, while bureaucratic misguidance might leave some veterans unacknowledged for generations and keeps their living descendants in the dark, with no clear path forward. Proper memorials are not just a matter of law, but of justice, dignity, and respect.
Each veteran deserves to be remembered with dignity. Researching burial records and ordering pension files for marker applications requires both time and resources. Contributions to the Descendant Community help continue this work even when official support has stalled.
On Memorial Day, we pause to remember the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. For most, remembrance may take the form of a flag placed on a grave, a moment of silence, or a family story passed down. But for many veterans who died in poverty or without family, especially those buried at the Milwaukee County Almshouse and Poor Farm Cemetery, their sacrifices have long gone unrecognized—until now.
At the Descendant Community, our researchers are devoted to restoring dignity to those veterans whose names and stories were nearly lost to history. These men answered the call of duty but were later buried without honor, often in unmarked graves at a county institution that served society’s most vulnerable.
Our team spends countless hours poring over ledgers, state and federal census sheets, and various military records. We comb through church registries, city directories, and death and birth certificates—each name a puzzle piece leading us closer to resurrecting the legacy of a forgotten soldier.
But this is just the beginning. For each identified serviceman, we do more than confirm a record of duty—we try to rebuild a life. We trace family trees, hoping to find living descendants and offer them the gift of connection. More than once, these discoveries have brought tears to our eyes and to those who never knew they were linked to a piece of this country’s history.
Join Us
This Memorial Day, we ask you to do more than remember. We ask you to reflect. To recognize that some heroes died in obscurity, and to support efforts that restore their names, their dignity, and their stories.
Join us. Honor them. Help us continue the work.
Whether through volunteering, donating or simply sharing this mission, your support makes a difference. Donations help us access genealogical databases and purchase pension files—resources vital to documenting service and applying for Veterans Administration headstones. These are the tools that help bring long-forgotten soldiers back into the light of memory.
Let us remember them not only in death, but in the way we live, the way we serve others, and the way we choose to tell the full story of our nation’s past.
Last November, we embarked on a mission close to our hearts: to honor our veterans with the dignity and recognition they deserve. Our journey began with the commemoration of six veterans whose stories had long been buried in the Milwaukee County Grounds Cemeteries, where neglect and anonymity often overshadowed their contributions. Through tireless research and collaboration with local historians and genealogists, we unearthed the remarkable tales of these overlooked heroes, spanning from the Civil War to the Spanish American War.
Today, we are excited to introduce our latest endeavor: our new digital veteran memorials. These memorials stand as a dynamic tribute, inviting visitors to delve into the lives of these veterans in a personal way. Users can connect with these forgotten heroes, gaining insight into their military service, personal struggles, and unwavering courage.
However, our mission is far from complete, and we need your help to continue our efforts. We are calling on individuals who share our passion for honoring veterans to join our veteran project research team. Whether you’re an experienced genealogist or new to the field, your contribution is invaluable. Training will be provided for those who are new to genealogy, and together, we will recognize the heroic soldiers who remain hidden at County Grounds. Please contact us to be connected with our genealogical team.
Additionally, as a nonprofit organization, we rely on the generosity of donors like you to sustain our work. Your donation will enable us to fund genealogical subscriptions and pension files required for ongoing research and outreach efforts, ensuring that the legacies of these overlooked veterans are preserved for future generations.
With your support, we can shine a spotlight on these forgotten heroes, ensuring that their sacrifices and contributions to our nation are never overlooked or forgotten. Together, let’s give these veterans the recognition they deserve and ensure that their stories are told for years to come.
In April 2024, the Descendant Community of Milwaukee County Grounds Cemeteries, Inc. was awarded the responsibility for the dignified reburial of 831 ancestors exhumed from the Milwaukee County Grounds Cemetery 2 in 2013. While a small DNA research project was proposed, the Wisconsin Historical Society (WHS) determined it was not appropriate for this disposition.
Following a review process, WHS Director Christian W. Øverland finalized the decision on September 9, 2024. The remains will be transferred to Forest Home Cemetery & Arboretum, with reburials starting as early as November 8, 2024, and concluding by September 2025.
With this celebratory news, we conclusively share:
Our descendant community’s voice has been recognized!
We received the award for dignified reburial.
The remains will no longer be used for research but will be laid to rest at Forest Home Cemetery.
There will be a memorial/monument at the new burial site.
Froedtert Hospital, as the disturbing entity, must pay the cost associated with the dignified reburial, including a marker to honor the reinterred individuals.
The award includes a 1-year interment plan, providing quick resolution (not a drawn-out process).
This dignified reburial disposition may create a future pathway for other County Grounds burials beyond this specific award.
Section of Forest Home Cemetery & Arboretum which will be the reburial ground of 831 ancestors disinterred in 2013 from Cemetery 2
Support Our Efforts and Future Projects
In addition to this good news, our researchers have also identified three more veterans previously unrecognized for their service. Due to our focus on the reburials, we will not hold a Veterans Day event this year, but we look forward to honoring these veterans with you in 2025.
While Froedtert Hospital is covering the costs of the reburial, we rely on the generosity of the community to fund essential overhead and future initiatives, including the Veterans Day event in 2025. Your donations are crucial to help us preserve the memory of those buried at Milwaukee County Grounds Cemeteries and to support our ongoing efforts, including the recognition of these veterans and the creation of memorials.
Please consider making a donation to support the Descendant Community’s mission. Every contribution—no matter the size—helps us honor our ancestors and ensure the success of future projects.
This Veterans Day, join the Descendant Community of Milwaukee County Grounds Cemeteries and our collaborative partners at Milwaukee County Grounds Park to remember our soldiers. This 1.5 hour-long ceremony will take place start at 11am in Cemetery 3 (just north of Bright Horizons at Watertown Plank Rd & 87th St), and is dedicated to paying tribute to these heroes who passed a century ago and were laid to rest at County Grounds.
With care and respect, we will reflect on each soldier’s legacy, ensuring they receive the recognition they deserve.
Event Highlights and an overwhelming thank you shared with:
Grand Army of the Republic’s 1917 Headstone Rededication Service
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War: Camps 1 & 15, and the Ladies’ Auxiliary
Our collaborative partners above also include liaisons of Milwaukee County, their Parks Department, Department of Veteran Affairs, Wenta Monument, and the Greater Milwaukee Fire and Police Pipes and Drums. Each have made this event possible.
In case of good weather, bagpiper Tom McKale will conclude the program. This event will proceed regardless of weather conditions, and everyone is welcome. There are no bathrooms on site.
Please bring a lawn chair and join us in commemorating these courageous soldiers.
Your presence and support this Veterans Day are essential in ensuring that the sacrifices of our veterans are remembered and honored.
With the help of our steadfast genealogists, this past summer six applications were submitted to Milwaukee County’s VA Service Officer for recognition headstones. The county provides these headstones as a benefit to our veterans who served honorably.
If all goes as our community hopes, five Civil War soldiers and one Spanish-American War soldier, will receive their long-awaited—and well-deserved—recognition headstones set in place at Cemetery 3. Most of these soldiers were buried over 100 years ago, and it is far time for their efforts to be properly recognized.
As the veteran headstone of Hermann Borghardt, a Civil War soldier, is already situated in Cemetery 3, the most respectful and honorable choice is to have the headstones of these brave soldiers installed nearby. This arrangement allows for a dignified gathering of soldier brothers from different eras, fostering a sense of unity and recognition.
