NORWAY, Mich. (WZMQ) – Over the weekend, Oak Crest Golf Course hosted the 9th Annual fundraiser for the U.P. Veteran’s Memorial Park, organized by the Sons of the American Legion. The event, a golf scramble held at Oak Crest Golf Course, saw a full slate of 29 teams, with four players each, participating in a shotgun start and golfing the full course. Attendees also enjoyed a 50/50 raffle and a silent auction featuring prizes like a brand-new lawnmower.
Dennis Larson, Chairman of the U.P. Veterans Memorial Park, explained the significance of the event: “Today is our major fundraiser of the year, and it helps support future renovations and maintenance at the Veterans Memorial. We have electric bills and so on, so this is a big fundraiser for us. We have filled right up.”
Larson recounted the memorial’s origins: “The memorial started out with World Cup ski jumping. There were all these flags of foreign countries and just one little American flag. We said we have got to do something about this. Originally, we started with the flagpole, and then it turned into a park and a big memorial. That was established in 2005.”
He emphasized the ongoing needs of the memorial: “We have maintenance, lawn care, and we’re spending $12,600 to have all the cement stained this year. We’re also fundraising for the flag. We need to replace all the internal mechanisms on the flagpole since 2005. We are successful at these fundraisers, and people are great.”
Larson encouraged additional support: “If anybody wants to make a donation or help out, contact me at 906-221-9373. I’d be more than happy to accommodate anybody.”
The community’s support was highlighted by Larson: “The community support U.P.-wide has been actually very, very good.” He also praised the venue, stating, “Oak Crest Golf Course treats us so wonderfully here. We always have it here at Oak Crest. We don’t want to give up our date. If you give up your date, you might not get another one. This is our 9th annual.”
Reflecting on the financial impact, Larson said, “We have approximately $300,000 invested up there already in that complex. We’re not done yet, so it’s all about what we can do when we can afford to do it.”
The memorial holds significant historical value: “The memorial represents each conflict—Vietnam, Grenada, World War II, World War I. Every war and conflict is accounted for there, and then there are 15 counties in the U.P. They’re all represented up there too, so this is a veterans memorial. This is representative of the whole UP, and the northern part of Wisconsin, too.”
Larson reiterated the importance of the event: “We’re constantly doing things, but this is our big fundraiser.”
To make a donation, to the U.P. Veteran’s Memorial Park fund, call Dennis Larson at 906-221-9373
