Apr 17, 2025
Ryan Funeral Home, located in De Pere, Wisconsin, has been a longtime supporter of veterans. Since its inception in 1926, the Funeral Home has provided services to veterans and their families. However, owner Scott Baeten wanted to take their support a step further.
Baeten reached out to VFW Post 2113 to find the best way the funeral home could properly recognize all of those serving and who have served.
Post Quartermaster Randy Hansen and Baeten began brainstorming design concepts and eventually decided on an emblematic wall display, recognizing each branch of the military.
The display also has the emblems of the U.S. Merchant Marines, the U.S. Public Health Service, and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
“While it’s traditional for the VFW to support and recognize the primary combat branches of our military services, we must not forget the combat support branches or agencies that perform duties and actions that are critical to the successes of all our combat branches,” VFW Post 2113 Commander Pat Moran said.
Hansen agreed, adding that illustrating the “total force” is important. “It is the combined total force that is displayed on this wall that makes all of us veterans proud of what has been accomplished over the ages,” he said.
A local church donated a stained-glass window with each of the names of De Pere citizens who served in WW1 to Ryan Funeral Home, which also was included in the display.
“This display will be viewed on a daily basis by all who visit our funeral home,” Baeten said. “[Post 2113] did an amazing job with this project, and we are extremely proud of the finished product.”
VFW Post 2113 has worked with small businesses and local government to design similar projects in the past. Through these partnerships with the local community, the Post was able to fully fund a $15,000 monument to veterans in one of the city’s parks and a $17,000 monument to local De Pere firefighters and EMS personnel.
This article is featured in the 2025 April issue of Checkpoint. If you're a VFW member and don't currently receive the VFW Checkpoint, please contact VFW magazine at magazine@vfw.org.