Brothers in war, their legacy set in stone

They fought together in World War II and now Walter, Harold and Bob Beyer’s legacies will forever sit side-by-side at The Highground west of Neillsville.

The Beyer brothers were three of the 27 veterans who received Legacy Stones last Saturday afternoon at a special ceremony at The Highground.

As a large number of people—mostly family members of the honored veterans—gathered for the ceremony, the Liberty Bell tolled 27 times, echoing the soldiers’ place in history over the hills and moraines of the surrounding area.

Much like the ringing bell, the Beyer brothers’ contribution to the American involvement in World War II no doubt still reverberates in their lives.

Walter and Harold were drafted into the U.S. Army in December of 1942.  Walter joined the Field Artillery, while Harold worked Supply for the 3^rd Army.  Bob, the youngest of the brothers, was a high school senior at the time.

Bob joined the war effort when he graduated in 1943.  He was drafted into the U.S. Navy and was assigned to DE 259, a destroyer escort.  The Beyer brothers’ Legacy Stones, much like their memories of war, are permanent.  The stones serve as a reminder, they mark the brothers’ place in history—their legacies are truly set in stone.

"It’s an honor," Harold said of receiving a Legacy Stone.  He acknowledged the emotions that many veterans were no doubt feeling that day.  "It means a lot," he said.

It means a lot because they are brothers and because their service will always be recognized together, said Walter.  "We should be together," he said.  "We’re a family."

The three Legacy Stones honoring the Beyer brothers’ service in World War II now sit side-by-side near the Vietnam Memorial at The Highground west of Neillsville.

Bob Beyer (left) and Kirk Rodman, The Highground’s volunteer general manager, carefully place Beyer’s Legacy Stone in the ground.

Harold Beyer poses with his Legacy Stone and a number of family members at the Legacy Stone ceremony.