Camp American Legion builds nature trail for disabled veterans

Camp American Legion has been providing rehabilitation, recuperation and rest to Wisconsin veterans, active-duty military servicemembers and their families since 1925. The 300-acre facility located in northern Wisconsin is a scenic place for servicemen and women to swim, fish, play yard games, create crafts, reconnect with spouses and children, and enjoy a nature trail through the state forest.

But the dirt-packed nature trail wasn’t accessible to all 1,000 veterans and their family members who attend the various week-long visits to the camp each summer – the trail wasn’t conducive to wheel chairs. That all changed last Friday when a mile-long paved handicapped-accessible trail was dedicated at Camp American Legion.

The Gary G. Wetzel Way trail – named after a Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient and longtime Wisconsin Legionnaire – was a collaborative effort between The American Legion Department of Wisconsin and Local 139 of the International Union of Operating Engineers.

“The founders of our organization, the World War I veterans, realized how therapeutic the Northwoods were for veterans dealing with combat-operational stress, post-traumatic stress and shell-shock," Department of Wisconsin Adjutant David Kurtz said. "So this land, and specifically this trail, expands our capability to allow those veterans who have lost limbs (from combat or from an illness caused by Agent Orange) to have access to a larger portion of the land at camp. And that therapeutic value is important part of our service to veterans.”

The trail was completed at no cost to the department, thanks to Local 139 and other road construction contractors donating their time, equipment and materials. Local 139 President Terry McGowan said the union was looking for a community service project to enhance the skills of its apprentices and the trail project was a perfect match for the union’s Combat to Construction program – a veteran training program.

Over the course of a month, 10 military veterans in the Combat to Construction program cleared, excavated and paved the once old logging road to give disabled veterans access into the woods. One of the apprentices, Army veteran Leroy Miller who served in Afghanistan, said the program allows veterans to continue serving.

“We continue to get to build things for America … build things for Americans and support my family," Miller said. "So it’s great; it’s an amazing program." And as for the new trail, Miller said, “We took what was great, we made it greater. We did it for the vets.”

The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Gary G. Wetzel Way trail on June 17 involved Kurtz, McGowan, Department of Wisconsin Commander Dale Oatman, Wetzel and other Legion leadership.

“The trail is another way for veterans to get out amongst nature and enjoy the woods during their rest and recuperation,” Oatman said. “We are grateful to (Local 139) and other contractors that they used.”

Naming the trail after Wetzel, a helicopter gunner in Vietnam, was a natural fit due to his leadership to other veterans as an honorary life member of Post 434 in Oak Creek, Wis., and as a 40-year member of Local 139. Wetzel received the Medal of Honor for helping injured soldiers to safety, while wounded himself, after his helicopter was shot down and came under enemy fire.

In regards to the significance of what the new trail means to Camp American Legion visitors, Wetzel said, “Anybody with a handicap can walk this trail, take their time, think about things, think about America, think about their life, and just kind of relax and kind of take it easy. Having their thoughts and doing what they want to do because of freedom.”

Future plans for the new trail include the construction of hunting blinds so disabled veterans can hunt, as well as the addition of gazebos and designated camping areas. Until then, the Gary G. Wetzel Way trail will continue to uphold Camp American Legion’s mission.

“Our mission here is ‘Help to Heal,’” said Kevin Moshea, the Camp American Legion director and a member of Post 318 in Lake Tomahawk. “The trail will add to the healing experience here for our veterans, our servicemembers and their families.