The Ripon Rabbit
On April 4th, community member Rob Wittchow drove into Ripon to conduct business. It was a typical April day in Wisconsin, with hints of spring in the air but winter still holding on tight. As a former Marine and Patriot, he paid attention to the details of his surroundings. While driving through the historical district of downtown Ripon, he observed something that he found to be disgusting and appalling at the location of the Little White Schoolhouse at the time at its former home on Blackburn.
Wittchow was shocked and dismayed by what he saw in front of the then National Landmark. He was so taken aback that he took a picture and a short video of the scene. As a former Marine, he held the American flag in high regard as a symbol of freedom that represents the sacrifices of every individual who fought for it. What he witnessed was a heartbreaking sight – the tattered and torn stripes of red and white wrapped up on the staff itself, with a faded field of blue that had lost its vibrancy.
He noted that neglecting a flag display for just one year could cause such damage, but what he saw was obviously more than that. Wittchow’s upbringing instilled in him a deep respect for the national symbol, and he was deeply disturbed by the lack of care shown towards it at the Little White Schoolhouse. Wittchow’s upbringing also has instilled in him a deep sense of duty to his country and respect for the American flag.
His father, unable to serve in the military, still took great pride in raising and lowering the flag every day, instilling in Wittchow a deep respect for the national symbol. He was taught to replace the flag on Flag Day or if it was not representable, then to remove and discard it appropriately. These teachings were reinforced during his time in the military, and they remain a core part of his values today. For Wittchow, it was a matter of serving his country, serving his God, and taking care of what we have to ensure a better future for our youth.
Wittchow’s errand that day was to take recyclable plastic to his church, as part of an ecological program to make beautiful park benches and reduce our environmental footprint. He sees a connection between his service to his country and his commitment to taking care of the environment, and he believes in passing on these values to future generations. But he immediately set course for the Carnegie Library, the new headquarters for the Ripon Area Chamber of Commerce and left his contact information with the request that The Chambers executive Director Mandy Kimes get back with him as soon as possible.
Mr. Wittchow left downtown and was headed out Hwy 23 when he spotted Kimes at the new Schoolhouse location that was being prepped for the upcoming move. Mandy was overseeing the progress and perhaps snapping selfies as the footings were being poured. (keep in mind at this time we now understand that Mandy Kimes was fully aware of the pending doom facing Landmark status should the Chamber continue on with the little white schoolhouse relocation)
So Mr. Witchow pulled in, parked, and approached the Executive Director, and began by introducing himself as a former Marine and patriot who was concerned about the way the national flag was being displayed in front of our national landmark.
However, Mandy seemed oblivious to what he was saying, so Rob pulled out the picture above and video he had just taken to show her the unacceptable display of the flag.
He demanded that action be taken immediately at the old location, not just at the new location as she suggested would soon become the case, and Wittchow became stern when she did not seem to understand the gravity of the situation. To no surprise, Mandy is very new to the position and clearly unsure of how to handle the matter, so Rob offered to speak directly with the individuals responsible for fulfilling the task of replacement if needed. He even offered to purchase and donate a new flag if necessary. Mandy took down his contact information and reassured him that she would look into the matter and contact him with her findings. Despite Rob’s insistence that the issue be rectified immediately, he says “Mandy did not seem to take kindly to my words”.
As Rob made his way home, he couldn’t shake off the image of the disrespected national flag in front of the historic landmark. He felt a mix of emotions – from anger and disappointment to a sense of duty and responsibility. In his mind, the newly appointed director of the Chamber of Commerce failed to take her job seriously by not noticing the disrepair of the flag and its surroundings, including the proper presentation of the national symbol.
Rob felt it was his duty to take action, as it was not just a matter of pride for the city or the state, but for the country as a whole. The physical reaction he felt only reinforced his determination to make sure that immediate action was taken.
What Mr. Wittchow shared with us next is the type of pride every community member in this country should aspire for;
“Recalling the conversation with Mandy in my head, I asked her the specific question if there was any historical significance or identification of that specific flag in front of the little white schoolhouse. Mandy stated that there was not any significance. So with my state of mind, I decided to take action! I reached out to American Legion Hall and VFW members. I asked if the American Legion sells United States Flags at which point the man on the phone confirmed they do for $25. He asked when I wanted one and I stated right now! Coincidentally enough after his chuckling, he stated that he was coming into Green Lake and I responded that I was in Green Lake. So we made arrangements to meet immediately. When he learned of why, that fellow veteran and true patriot offered his services along with his wife to help hang the new flag. Upon our arrival back at the Little White Schoolhouse, we discovered that the flagpole was telescopic and had been run down to its base. During our investigation of the flagpole, we discovered that there were no grommets to attach a new flag!”
Rob went on to say “That veteran and his wife posed the question of what to do now and felt we had run into a brick wall and nothing could be done. I chuckled and sternly made the statement that I would Rectify that insignificant debacle by going down to the local hardware store and purchasing grommets! The veteran and his wife chuckled, shaking their heads but smiling and said they would remain and looked forward to my return. I purchased stainless steel carabiners. I arrived back at the Blackburn location and found the veteran and his wife still there as they said they would be. We proudly attached the grommets and flag respectively and ran that flagpole up! And what a proud moment I felt, with a tear in my eye as it rippled and snapped in the 40 mph winds!! A new flag makes a very distinct sound in such winds!”
After Mr. Wittchow had taken action to replace the flag at the old National Landmark site; he received a phone call from Mandy, the newly appointed director of the Chamber of Commerce, on the same day of his visit to the site. Mandy informed him that she had taken care of the matter by contacting an individual and removing the flag. She also expressed her happiness at learning that there is a proper way to dispose of a flag. Mr. Wittchow also informed her of the old-fashioned mailbox that can be found at the American Legion Hall Post 43 for proper flag disposal.
Mandy went on to inform Rob that the new proposed site would indeed have a new flag displayed, and tried to end the call by thanking him.
Mr. Wittchow, however, informed her that there was already a new flag flying at the Little White Schoolhouse site. Mandy’s response was a lengthy silent pause, followed by a question asking how he could have done that without grommets? Mr. Wittchow informed her that he had also rectified that issue. There was another brief pause before Mandy ended the call by telling Mr. Wittchow to have a nice day.
Wittchow’s story is not one that would be found in the local paper and is one of a deep respect for the American flag and a commitment to serving his country and community in meaningful ways. His experience at the Little White Schoolhouse that day is a stark reminder that there are those in the community that do not uphold our national symbols and are not treating them with the respect they deserve. Shame…
*The Ripon Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Mandy Kimes was unavailable at the time we reached out.
KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN: THE STORY DOES NOT END HERE. READ PART 2 HERE.
