9 years ago my little Central Wisconsin community joined a sad fraternity - a bitter man was looking to destroy his soon-to-be ex-wife in a bitter divorce -
He murdered his wife's attorney, 2 of his wife's co-workers at a local bank, and a local police officer in the matter of 4 hours. The perp was severely wounded and died a few weeks later.

The officer's daughters attended the elementary school near me. The girls' teachers started a schoolwide then districtwide student service organization called Be Amazing to honor their father and the women who lost their lives. The local communities also built a memorial to honor them.

The Never Forgot Memorial is located in Kennedy Park in Weston, Wisconsin (near Schofield/Wausau), and honors the four victims of a tragic mass shooting on March 22, 2017.

WSAW +1

Key Details About the Memorial:

Purpose: The memorial was built to ensure the community never forgets the lives lost in a series of shootings in 2017.

Victims Honored: The monument honors Detective Jason Weiland, Dianne Look, Karen Barclay, and Sara Quirt Sann.

Dedication: The memorial was unveiled on October 16, 2019.

Design: It consists of a four-sided, 7-foot-tall pillar with an eternal flame on top, symbolizing, as former Wausau Police Chief Jeff Hardel stated, that the community will "never forget" the tragedy.

Location: The memorial is situated on the north side of Jelinek Avenue, across the street from the baseball fields in Kennedy Park.

Funding: The monument was funded through the "Run to Remember" 5K and community donations.

Wausau Pilot & Review +3

The memorial serves as a place for reflection, healing, and remembering the victims for their families and the surrounding community.