Each year members of the Lakeland Union High School football team take part in the Minocqua 4th of July parade.
In previous years they collected donations for veterans to attend the Never Forgotten Honor Flight.
However, the 2020 parade was cancelled due to Covid-19.
The players and a Woodruff business owner who teamed up to raise money a different way.
Numerous cars and motorcycles drove past HoggieDoggies Friday. A pop-up tent and caution tape in front of the business.
Several football players, including David Bock, sat under the tent collecting donations.
Nearby was Vietnam Veteran Wally Obermann, who attended the Honor Flight in 2016. As a result, he now assists fundraising efforts across the area.
How it came to be
"I took it upon myself to text out to our coach and ask him if there was any type of fundraiser that we could do this year to compensate for the loss of the parade," said Bock.
They ended up delivering donation boxes to local businesses.
While delivering boxes, Bock and a business owner found an opportunity at HoggieDoggies.
Owner Steve Pletta has a connection to veterans: His father served in World War II.
"I had told Wally that I would be interested in hosting an event," said Pletta. "Not only put a coin box out, but I’d like to go one step further and see if we can’t generate an event."
As coins clanked in buckets Friday, the event appeared to be doing well. Plus there was an incentive for customers to donate.
"So I said if you’re here on this hot July third day, the eve of our independence day," explained Pletta. "Anybody who makes a good will donation is going to receive a coupon for a free ice cream cone."
"People were really liking that," observed Bock. "Tons of people were very patriotic up here and willing to donate to the veterans to let them see the memorials in D.C. So that’s very cool."
Fundraising results
Dozens of people donated Friday. The day started with a $100 donation. A few hours later the Lakeland VFW post made a $1000 donation.
The results made Wally Obermann proud.
"It brought tears to my eyes. They’re not kids anymore. They’re men," said Oberman. "We’ve only been doing this for six days and we’ve already got enough to send seven vets."
"You know our youth get a lot of not-so-positive publicity sometimes," added Pletta. "These guys are serious about what they’re doing."
"This kind of connects with three things that mean a lot to me," explained Bock. "Our country, our veterans, and football."
