Judy Pitcher: 2016 Citizen Legionnaire
Recently, Judy Pitcher of the Blue Star Garden Club was recognized by American Legion Post 492 located in Rothschild, Wisconsin for her work with the Veterans Memorial Park.Beginning in 2003, Judy worked to locate the Blue Star Marker which at one time was located in a wayside near Mosinee; once that wayside was closed the marker disappeared. In 2005, the marker was finally located in Rothschild. The Blue Star Memorials honor all the men and women that have served or are serving in the United States Armed Forces. The Wisconsin Garden Club Federation sponsored original placement of the Blue Star Memorial marker.Restoration of the marker was an expensive proposition. With the help of her neighbor, Joe Kelbley (a Vietnam War veteran) and Jessica Maple (another veteran), organizations and individuals were approached and $28,000 was raised. The Blue Star Marker and memorial was rededicated in Rothschild’s Veterans Memorial Park in 2007.
Members of the Wausau YWCA Garden Club planned, planted and maintained the gardens by the marker. When that group decided to leave WGCF in 2011, Judy with the help of Bonnie Anderson, Rose Wicker, and her daughter, Danielle formed the Blue Star Garden Club in 2012. The club’s service project is to plant and maintain Veterans Park. The park also honors fallen soldiers and is currently working to establish a Gold Star Mother’s Memorial. This tribute to Gold Star Mothers will be one of four in the nation.
Kudos to Judy for her untiring efforts to resurrect this marker and to those who continue to help her maintain the flower bed around the memorial.
Congratulations Judy, we are so proud of all of your efforts honoring the veterans and the WGCF.