To the Editor:

On behalf of the Portage County Historical Society, we want to thank the Portage County community for their help in presenting the April 6 “Over There; Portage County in the Great War” program at Sentry Theater.

April 6, 2017 marked the 100-year anniversary of the United States entrance into what we now know as World War 1.

At this show, the Portage County Historical Society debuted the “Over There” historical documentary produced by Professor Sarah Scripps class and presented the “Voices of Portage County” readers’ theater program highlighting the experience of Portage County residents “Over Here”. In addition to the many residents who served in the armed forces and in the efforts on the home front, Portage County is also home to Vice Admiral Albert Weston Grant, General Edward McGlachlin and Congressional Medal of Honor winner Clayton Slack.

Period music was provided by the Northern Gateway Chorus of the Stevens Point Barbershoppers and the Portage County Combined High School band under the direction of Jeff Dahlseng of Pacelli Catholic High School. We are grateful for their participation and the cooperation of the band directors and the administration from each of the 5 Portage County high schools.

With the help of AP History teachers and students from all the high schools and community members from all over the county, we were able to present a meaningful celebration of the role of Portage County residents played on the world stage in the “Voices of Portage County” readers’ theater performance.

We are grateful for our generous major sponsors, Sentry Insurance, UWSP, Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin and many others who provided financial or technical assistance to this project.

The historical documentary and the readers’ theater presentation will be available to school and community groups in the fall. On Memorial Day weekend the 6 building museum exhibit in Heritage Park in Plover will open (Saturdays and Sundays 1 PM to 5 PM through Labor Day weekend). We invite you to come with your families to learn more about the story of “Portage County in The Great War”.

At Heritage Days on the weekend of June 17-18, World War One re-enactors will visit the park to provide a fascinating look into the life of a soldier.

Tim Siebert, President, PCHS
Sue Koehl, PCHS member