The public is invited to register to attend Education Days on October 3 and 4, when The Highground welcomes several presenters who will be offering unique and exciting presentations on historical and cultural issues, past and present, that have been affected by war.
Presentations will be done on a rotational basis throughout the day from 9:30am–2pm. The presenters include: “WWI Weaponry” by US Navy Veteran, Author and Historian Gary Foster; “D-Day during WWII” by Living History Coordinator Troy Buddenhagen; “The Story of the WASPs” by Historian, Author and Pilot Fred Beseler; “Vietnam War Experience” by Vietnam Marine Veteran Skip Klabon; “Korean War” by Command Historian with the 88th Readiness Division from Fort McCoy Ward Zischke; “Afghanistan – Culture, Women in Afghanistan, Realities of War and Relocation to the U.S.” by Afghani Evacuee, Women’s Advocate and Prominent Afghani Fashion Designer Sarwat Najib.
This is the first time that Fred Beseler and Sarwat Najib have presented at The Highground for a community event. Fred, a pilot since 1978 from Houston, Minnesota, has given numerous presentations and written many aviation and civil war-related articles. He is a past president of EAA Chapter 307 in La Crosse and served on the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Aviation Hall of Fame.
Sarwat was born in Afghanistan and is one of the many Afghan evacuees who resettled in the United States after the Taliban takeover in August 2021. She is a well-known face to those following Afghanistan in the fashion world. Sarwat owns Afghanistan’s most famous fashion brand, Shamla Fashion. She also worked as the managing graphic designer for Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, the former Afghan president, and directed a women’s empowerment program at Focus Afghanistan.
Sarwat’s husband, Najib Azad, is a well-known face to those following Afghanistan in the news. Najib was the press secretary and spokesman for Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, a senior political and legal advisor to NAMSA/NATO and a senior policy advisor at the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan. He will also be at The Highground with Sarwat for Education Days.
Community members who would like to attend The Highground Education Days event on October 3 or 4 are asked to RSVP to Theresa by email to museum@thehighground.org or by calling 715-743-4224. This event is free to attend due to the generous sponsorships of John & Donna Koutre and the Optimist Club of Neillsville.
For upcoming events and more, visit The Highground’s website at thehighground.us or follow them on Facebook at Facebook.com/TheHighgroundVeteransMemorial.
The Highground is located at W7031 Ridge Rd, Neillsville WI 54456. thehighground.us