Vedder Family Honored During Recent Legacy Stone Ceremony at The Highground
Wednesday, October 3rd, 2018 -- 9:01 AM
-The Vedder family was one of the many families honored during a legacy stone ceremony at The Highground in August.The ceremony had a special meaning for the Vedder family as they recently donated the Iwo Jima Flag to The Highground. Dr. Vedder was a pediatrician in the Neillsville area. Before that, on the morning of February 19th in 1945, James Vedder, combat surgeon for the 27th Regiment, 5th Marine Division, waited for his landing craft to touch the volcanic sands of Iwo Jima. Little did Vedder know, landing on the sands of Iwo Jima would change his life. On March 13th, after weeks of battle, James Vedder collected an Imperial Japanese Navy flag from the burned out village of Kita on Iwo Jima.
Kita was the command post for Japanses General Kuribayashi, who had abandoned the headquarters complex, likely choosing to fight and die with his men. 73 years later, it was donated to The Highground’s new museum.
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