2026 Core Strategies:
1. Advancing Veteran Mental Health and Well-Being
The War Memorial Center is a recognized leader in statewide veteran suicide prevention and mental health awareness. In 2026, WMC will continue expanding public education initiatives that reduce stigma, promote help-seeking behavior, and encourage lethal means safety.
As the primary partner of the Southeastern Wisconsin Veteran Mental Health Task Force, WMC leads coordinated, evidence-based media campaigns across television, radio, and digital platforms. These efforts amplify lifesaving messages to veterans and their families in every Wisconsin county, ensuring consistent and credible outreach at scale.
Complementing public awareness efforts, WMC hosts year-round mental health and wellness events that connect veterans and families with trusted resources, including healthcare providers, peer support networks, and suicide prevention specialists. These gatherings reinforce public messaging while fostering connection, purpose, and belonging—critical protective factors for veteran well-being.
WMC also engages veterans and active-duty service members as volunteer instructors and speakers, strengthening intergenerational relationships and reinforcing meaning and identity through service. This approach aligns with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Journeys of Veterans Map, which identifies community connection as essential to long-term wellness.
2. Expanding Community and Youth Education
Education remains central to the War Memorial Center’s mission. In 2026, WMC will expand interactive educational programs that use storytelling, primary sources, and veteran voices to engage youth and adults alike.
Programming includes digital lesson plans aligned with curriculum standards, immersive onsite and offsite learning experiences, and our signature Service Experience Day, which connects students directly with veterans in small-group, interactive settings. These experiences bring history to life while instilling values of courage, integrity, service, and sacrifice.
Beyond the classroom, WMC extends its educational reach through traveling exhibits and veteran-led programs that engage tens of thousands of community members annually. Nationally recognized days of remembrance—such as Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and National Vietnam Veterans Day—provide opportunities for reflection, gratitude, and civic connection.
Together, these efforts ensure the War Memorial Center remains a dynamic educational resource, a supportive space for veterans, and a unifying civic institution for the broader community.
3. Hub for Veteran and Community Engagement
The War Memorial Center provides more than $500,000 annually in discounted and donated space and services to veteran-serving and community organizations, reinforcing its role as a trusted hub for civic engagement and collaboration.
Each year, WMC’s educational outreach reaches more than 13,000 students, 3,500 veterans, and 119,000 community members through onsite programs, offsite learning experiences, and traveling exhibits displayed throughout southeastern Wisconsin.
Community-building events—including Field of Flags, National Vietnam Veterans Day, Service Experience Day, Music in the Garden, and Veterans Day programming—offer meaningful opportunities for remembrance, learning, and connection while strengthening civic bonds across generations.
