Art Museum plan to invest in War Memorial not sitting well with vets

MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee Art Museum officials say they want will help fix up the War Memorial Center, but with one catch -- they get control. That's not sitting well with Milwaukee area veterans.

Jim Linneman and hundreds of other Milwaukee veterans expressed concern Monday evening, July 30th over disrepair at the War Memorial. They believe Milwaukee Art Museum officials are trying to buy control of the Memorial buildings.

"If they think they're going to take that away, somebody's got another thing coming," Linneman said.

Milwaukee Art Museum officials have proposed investing $15 million into the War Memorial to fix it up, and asking Milwaukee County to chip in $9.8 million. In return, the Art Museum would be allowed to manage the War Memorial facilities moving forward, without limiting the veterans' use of the space.

"I don't trust them at all with that. This is an old story. I'm a Vietnam veteran. When I came home, they beat us to death, so no, I don't think so. Promises get broke every day," Linneman said.

Art Museum Director Dan Keegan insists promises will be kept.

"Veterans would be given highest first priority. They have the right to the space and we would look for them to tell us what space they need, where and when, and will work that out," Keegan said.

Keegan says the Art Museum already occupies about 70% of the Memorial buildings, and the Art Museum works well with the veterans currently.

"In no way, shape, or form would we be diminishing the veterans presence. That is their right. This was built as a war memorial, and we have every intention in respecting that," Keegan said.

Milwaukee Art Museum officials and War Memorial representatives are currently in negotiations regarding how to make this investment happen.