The Milwaukee VA grounds are one of my all-time favorite places in the city. Long-time blog readers who have been with me since my last blog know that it’s been a favorite place for many years now. I used to live very close to the VA and walked through the grounds monthly, if not weekly. Now that I don’t live so close, I don’t get over there as often. The last time I had my camera with me on the VA grounds before this past week was actually Memorial Day weekend 2016, nearly a year ago. When I went to the For the Birds show at the Domes, I made time to stop by the VA grounds as well.
Please note: The grounds I’m featuring are the grounds for the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee, WI, also known as Milwaukee Soldiers Home. It’s not Arlington Cemetery. I know the rows and rows of veteran graves look very similar. Every time I post pictures of the cemetery, I get questions about or have people mistaking it for Arlington.
A number of the grand old VA buildings are closed right now, which is really a shame. The good news is that they are renovating a handful of them. I’m hopeful that we will see a few of the old VA gems re-open to the public at some point. But for now, the renovation work is the reason for the fencing around several buildings. I tried to shoot around it, but you’ll see a few glimpses.
The VA grounds are adjacent to Miller Park. I can’t even explain why this view kills me every time, but I absolutely love the juxtaposition of the statue and Miller Park.
Look at the sprouting trees around the old chapel! I get so excited seeing plants blooming again every single spring.
I know it seems weird to wonder around a cemetery. It’s very peaceful and can be quite relaxing (during the day anyway ha).
If you live in the Milwaukee area and have never strolled the VA grounds before, I highly recommend adding it to your must-visit list and planning a little excursion this spring or summer. If you can, please visit the grounds over Memorial Day weekend. Seeing a little flag placed next to every single grave is moving beyond words.
More Milwaukee highlights!
Visit the Milwaukee section of my blog to check out additional favorite sights in this amazing city.
Doors Open Milwaukee Highlight: Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church
China Lights at the Boerner Botanical Gardens
Art in Bloom at the Milwaukee Art Museum
I think they use that same style of marker in many of the memorial military cemeteries and Arlington is just the only one most people have seen. There’s a really big one in San Diego with row after row of those stones.
I don’t know if it’s the same building from different angles or multiple buildings, but the mansards are amazing! I’m glad they’re doing maintenance on the lovely old buildings.
I love the pictures of the buildings! They turned out fabulous!