A visitor to the 2022 Fort McCoy Armed Forces Day Open House is shown May 21, 2022, at Fort McCoy, Wis. Nearly 2,000 people participated in the open house. The day’s activities were centered on Fort McCoy’s Commemorative Area, which features the History Center; five World War II-era buildings filled with historical equipment and displays, the outdoor Equipment Park, and Veterans Memorial Plaza. Visitors also were treated to cooler temps and partly sunny skies. The event also had guided installation bus tours, a sandbag-filling station, personalized ID tags, camouflage face painting, military equipment displays, marksmanship galleries, and more. (Photo by Kaleen Holliday/Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office)

Visitors to the 2022 Fort McCoy Armed Forces Day Open House are shown May 21, 2022, at Fort McCoy, Wis. Nearly 2,000 people participated in the open house. The day’s activities were centered on Fort McCoy’s Commemorative Area, which features the History Center; five World War II-era buildings filled with historical equipment and displays, the outdoor Equipment Park, and Veterans Memorial Plaza. Visitors also were treated to cooler temps and partly sunny skies. The event also had guided installation bus tours, a sandbag-filling station, personalized ID tags, camouflage face painting, military equipment displays, marksmanship galleries, and more. (Photo by Kaleen Holliday/Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office)

Visitors to the 2022 Fort McCoy Armed Forces Day Open House stop by the natural resources and wildlife exhibit on May 21, 2022, at Fort McCoy, Wis. Nearly 2,000 people participated in the open house. The day’s activities were centered on Fort McCoy’s Commemorative Area, which features the History Center; five World War II-era buildings filled with historical equipment and displays, the outdoor Equipment Park, and Veterans Memorial Plaza. Visitors also were treated to cooler temps and partly sunny skies. The event also had guided installation bus tours, a sandbag-filling station, personalized ID tags, camouflage face painting, military equipment displays, marksmanship galleries, and more. (Photo by Tim Wilder/Fort McCoy Directorate of Public Works Environmental Division Natural Resources Branch)

A child looks at a military vehicle during the 2022 Fort McCoy Armed Forces Day Open House on May 21, 2022, at Fort McCoy, Wis. Nearly 2,000 people participated in the open house. The day’s activities were centered on Fort McCoy’s Commemorative Area, which features the History Center; five World War II-era buildings filled with historical equipment and displays, the outdoor Equipment Park, and Veterans Memorial Plaza. Visitors also were treated to cooler temps and partly sunny skies. The event also had guided installation bus tours, a sandbag-filling station, personalized ID tags, camouflage face painting, military equipment displays, marksmanship galleries, and more. (Photo by Mary Gerdes/Black River Falls, Wis.)

Visitors to the 2022 Fort McCoy Armed Forces Day Open House are shown May 21, 2022, at Fort McCoy, Wis. Nearly 2,000 people participated in the open house. The day’s activities were centered on Fort McCoy’s Commemorative Area, which features the History Center; five World War II-era buildings filled with historical equipment and displays, the outdoor Equipment Park, and Veterans Memorial Plaza. Visitors also were treated to cooler temps and partly sunny skies. The event also had guided installation bus tours, a sandbag-filling station, personalized ID tags, camouflage face painting, military equipment displays, marksmanship galleries, and more. (Photo by Kaleen Holliday/Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office)

Visitors to the 2022 Fort McCoy Armed Forces Day Open House are shown May 21, 2022, at Fort McCoy, Wis. Nearly 2,000 people participated in the open house. The day’s activities were centered on Fort McCoy’s Commemorative Area, which features the History Center; five World War II-era buildings filled with historical equipment and displays, the outdoor Equipment Park, and Veterans Memorial Plaza. Visitors also were treated to cooler temps and partly sunny skies. The event also had guided installation bus tours, a sandbag-filling station, personalized ID tags, camouflage face painting, military equipment displays, marksmanship galleries, and more. (Photo by Kaleen Holliday/Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office)

A morning scene before the opening of the 2022 Fort McCoy Armed Forces Day Open House is shown May 21, 2022, at Fort McCoy, Wis. Nearly 2,000 people participated in the open house. The day’s activities were centered on Fort McCoy’s Commemorative Area, which features the History Center; five World War II-era buildings filled with historical equipment and displays, the outdoor Equipment Park, and Veterans Memorial Plaza. Visitors also were treated to cooler temps and partly sunny skies. The event also had guided installation bus tours, a sandbag-filling station, personalized ID tags, camouflage face painting, military equipment displays, marksmanship galleries, and more. (Photo by Scott T. Sturkol/Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office)

A morning scene before the opening of the 2022 Fort McCoy Armed Forces Day Open House is shown May 21, 2022, at Fort McCoy, Wis. Nearly 2,000 people participated in the open house. The day’s activities were centered on Fort McCoy’s Commemorative Area, which features the History Center; five World War II-era buildings filled with historical equipment and displays, the outdoor Equipment Park, and Veterans Memorial Plaza. Visitors also were treated to cooler temps and partly sunny skies. The event also had guided installation bus tours, a sandbag-filling station, personalized ID tags, camouflage face painting, military equipment displays, marksmanship galleries, and more. (Photo by Scott T. Sturkol/Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office)

Veterans Memorial Plaza is shown May 1, 2023, at the Commemorative Area at Fort McCoy, Wis., after the flags were raised for the first time in 2023. The 900 block of Fort McCoy and the 11-acre area surrounding it are at the hub of the fort’s history-preservation efforts and is called the Commemorative Area. The Commemorative Area consists of five World War II-era buildings set aside to help tell Fort McCoy's unique story. These facilities are representative of the types found in the cantonment area when it was constructed in 1942. Three of the buildings — an administrative facility, a dining facility, and a barracks — are set up to depict Soldier life during the 1940s. Display items include a World War II chapel, bunk beds, footlockers, mannequins, and potbelly stoves. Another building highlights four different modern military training venues, and a separate facility shows various training aids. The area also has the Equipment Park. Veterans Memorial Plaza is a tribute to all of the men and women who have served the nation during each era of Fort McCoy’s history. (U.S. Army Photo by Scott T. Sturkol, Public Affairs Office, Fort McCoy, Wis.)

Veterans Memorial Plaza is shown May 1, 2023, at the Commemorative Area at Fort McCoy, Wis., after the flags were raised for the first time in 2023. The 900 block of Fort McCoy and the 11-acre area surrounding it are at the hub of the fort’s history-preservation efforts and is called the Commemorative Area. The Commemorative Area consists of five World War II-era buildings set aside to help tell Fort McCoy's unique story. These facilities are representative of the types found in the cantonment area when it was constructed in 1942. Three of the buildings — an administrative facility, a dining facility, and a barracks — are set up to depict Soldier life during the 1940s. Display items include a World War II chapel, bunk beds, footlockers, mannequins, and potbelly stoves. Another building highlights four different modern military training venues, and a separate facility shows various training aids. The area also has the Equipment Park. Veterans Memorial Plaza is a tribute to all of the men and women who have served the nation during each era of Fort McCoy’s history. (U.S. Army Photo by Scott T. Sturkol, Public Affairs Office, Fort McCoy, Wis.)

People visit the installation’s Equipment Park on April 23, 2023, at Fort McCoy, Wis. It’s a popular venue annually during Armed Forces Day Open House. Equipment Park is inside the installation’s historic Commemorative Area. The Equipment Park is an outdoor display of historic and present-day equipment representative of the types used on the installation. The design of the park allows for display of 70 pieces of equipment, ranging from helicopters and howitzers to trucks and trailers. The Commemorative Area also consists of five World War II-era buildings set aside to help tell Fort McCoy’s unique story. These facilities are representative of the types found in the cantonment area when it was constructed in 1942. (U.S. Army Photo by Scott T. Sturkol, Public Affairs Office, Fort McCoy, Wis.)

People visit the installation’s Equipment Park on April 23, 2023, at Fort McCoy, Wis. It’s a popular venue annually during Armed Forces Day Open House. Equipment Park is inside the installation’s historic Commemorative Area. The Equipment Park is an outdoor display of historic and present-day equipment representative of the types used on the installation. The design of the park allows for display of 70 pieces of equipment, ranging from helicopters and howitzers to trucks and trailers. The Commemorative Area also consists of five World War II-era buildings set aside to help tell Fort McCoy’s unique story. These facilities are representative of the types found in the cantonment area when it was constructed in 1942. (U.S. Army Photo by Scott T. Sturkol, Public Affairs Office, Fort McCoy, Wis.)

People visit the installation’s Equipment Park on April 23, 2023, at Fort McCoy, Wis. It’s a popular venue annually during Armed Forces Day Open House. Equipment Park is inside the installation’s historic Commemorative Area. The Equipment Park is an outdoor display of historic and present-day equipment representative of the types used on the installation. The design of the park allows for display of 70 pieces of equipment, ranging from helicopters and howitzers to trucks and trailers. The Commemorative Area also consists of five World War II-era buildings set aside to help tell Fort McCoy’s unique story. These facilities are representative of the types found in the cantonment area when it was constructed in 1942. (U.S. Army Photo by Scott T. Sturkol, Public Affairs Office, Fort McCoy, Wis.)

UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters operated by aircrews with the Wisconsin National Guard are shown conducting operations on the cantonment area April 23, 2023, at Fort McCoy, Wis., as part of training operations at the installation. A similar helicopter from the Wisconsin National Guard will be at the 2023 Fort McCoy Armed Forces Day Open House on May 20, 2023. The UH-60 Black Hawk has been the Army’s front line utility helicopter for the past 40 years, and it shows no signs of letting up, said service officials at Redstone Arsenal, Ala. The helicopter is a regular fixture every year at Fort McCoy, Wis., particularly during major exercises such as the Combat Support Training Exercise. Black Hawk crews with the 1st Battalion, 147th Regiment of the Wisconsin National Guard in Madison, for example, support a wide variety of Guard and Reserve training on the post regularly. Now in its fourth decade of service, the Black Hawk was developed as a result of the Army’s requirement in 1972 for a simple, robust, and reliable utility helicopter system to satisfy projected air-mobile requirements around the globe. (U.S. Army Photo by Scott Sturkol, Public Affairs Office, Fort McCoy, Wis.)

Fort McCoy will hold its 2023 Armed Forces Day Open House on May 20 at the installation’s historic Commemorative Area.

“We look forward to welcoming our neighbors to Fort McCoy for this annual event,” said Public Affairs Officer Tonya Townsell with the Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office. “We’re looking forward to a fun-filled event with a lot to see and plenty to do.”

The free event runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is open to the public. Adults must be prepared to present IDs upon entering the installation.

The day’s activities are centered on the Commemorative Area, which features the History Center; five World War II-era buildings filled with historical equipment and displays, the outdoor Equipment Park, and Veterans Memorial Plaza.

Within the Commemorative Area, there will be dozens of displays set up under tents for more interactive fun, open house planners said. Planned activities include guided installation bus tours, a sandbag-filling station, personalized ID tags, camouflage face painting, military equipment displays, marksmanship galleries, and more.

Also included will be a climbing wall and a bouncy house. Military vehicle displays include the newest Army tactical vehicle in the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle and, new this year, the Wisconsin National Guard will be displaying the versatile UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.

The Directorate of Public Works Environmental Division Natural Resources Branch (NRB) will again be bringing back its popular display that includes some of the wildlife found on post, such as turtles, frogs, and snakes, said NRB Chief Tim Wilder. Endangered Species Biologist Jessup Weichelt with the NRB said during the 2022 open house they saw a steady stream of visitors to the display.

Mary Gerdes, general manager for WWIS 99.7 FM radio in Black River Falls, Wis., was among the visitors to the 2022 open house. Gerdes did a short Facebook Live announcement to her station’s listeners inviting people to come to that event. She also said she and her family had a wonderful time.

“It was great,” Gerdes said. “The grandkids had so much fun. ... What a fantastic event! There was just so much, but I think that the family friendly environment was the best overall part. Everyone in the booths, by the vehicles, and in the museum were engaging with everyone both young and old.

“I also did really enjoy seeing all the vehicles set up,” Gerdes said. “I would certainly encourage everyone to go. It’s an excellent experience and so close to home.”

Looking back at the history of the Commemorative Area, a person needs to look back to a day in late June 1995 when the Commemorative Area formally was dedicated as a World War II Commemorative Area. Today, the area serves to commemorate not only the installation’s involvement in World War II, but the entirety of Fort McCoy’s 100-plus years of history.

The work to establish the Commemorative Area began in 1992 during the 50th anniversary of World War II, said former Fort McCoy Public Affairs Officer Linda Fournier, who was responsible for the Commemorative Area from its inception to October 2015.

Camp McCoy, like many other military reservations, grew significantly during the World War II era. Because of this expansion and the construction of the cantonment area, much of what Fort McCoy looks like today is the result of changes that occurred during that war.

“At the time of the 50th anniversary of World War II, Fort McCoy, like many installations of that era, was in the process of demolishing or significantly renovating its World War II-era wood structures,” said Fournier in September 2015. “We felt it was important to our heritage to retain for the future a few of these buildings as the work to modernization and upgrade the cantonment area increased.

“It was deemed appropriate by the command group that it was significantly important to retain a few of these structures as a representation of our past,” Fournier said. “At the time, Fort McCoy had one of the largest remaining inventories of World War II-era facilities anywhere, and DOD (Department of Defense) was supportive of Fort McCoy’s efforts to set aside a collection of such structures as part of our World War II commemoration. Fort McCoy was one of the first installations to do so.”

Between 1992 and 1995, five adjoining World War II troop buildings — three barracks, a “mess hall” facility, and an administrative building — in the 900 block of the cantonment area permanently were set aside for commemoration purposes.

Since then, this area has grown into a 10-acre site. The Equipment Park also was established in the mid-1990s to complement the Commemorative Area buildings. What began as an initial outdoor display of five pieces of equipment (“macro-artifacts”) increased over time to what is today a display of 70 different items.

“All of the items on display in the Equipment Park specifically were selected in keeping with our Commemorative Area mission statement: to present pieces of military equipment that are representative of what was used here on Fort McCoy,” Fournier said.

The Fort McCoy History Center, the next component added to the Commemorative Area, opened in 1999, during the installation’s 90th anniversary. The center features exhibits and displays of artifacts, photographs, and period memorabilia. The History Center serves to tell the story of Fort McCoy based on the military personnel who trained here and the civilian workforce who supported the service personnel who passed through the installation.

The final piece of the Commemorative Area was to build Fort McCoy Veterans Memorial Plaza to honor all who have served. Construction on this memorial began in 2006, as did the work to create five Soldier statues representative of each of the major conflicts that Fort McCoy had been involved with to that point in time: i.e., World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the war on terrorism.

The formal dedication of Veterans Memorial Plaza was June 13, 2009, the date of Fort McCoy’s 100th anniversary. Several descendants of the installation’s founder, Maj. Gen. Robert B. McCoy, attended this dedication, Fournier said. The dedication was the key event in a series of activities held during Fort McCoy’s yearlong centennial observance.

The 2023 Armed Forces Day Open House also will feature an Army Band, and much more.

“Everyone come out and see what our latest Armed Forces Day Open House will be like. Come see the band, the displays, and more,” Townsell said. “You will see an event that is rich in history. And with our activities, such as the installation tours, they will give you a great idea of the continuing work that is done at Fort McCoy as the Total Force Training Center.”

Learn more about Fort McCoy online at https://home.army.mil/mccoy, on the Defense Visual Information Distribution System at https://www.dvidshub.net/fmpao, on Facebook by searching “ftmccoy,” and on Twitter by searching “usagmccoy.”

Also try downloading the Digital Garrison app to your smartphone and set “Fort McCoy” or another installation as your preferred base.