Green Bay Area Shrine Dedicates Statue To Soldiers

A Catholic shrine in northeastern Wisconsin has dedicated a new statue in honor of soldiers and veterans.

The Shrine in Champion, outside of Green Bay, played a big part in the life of Lt. Edwin Gerlikowski. He gave it credit for helping save his life. Before leaving to fight in World War II, he asked his mother to pray at the shrine, dedicated to Mary, every week. She did, and he came back safely after fighting in Europe and helping liberate the concentration camp at Dachau.

Father Peter Stryker said Gerlikowski’s estate paid for the statue depicting St. Michael the Archangel with the upper hand in a fight with Satan.

“He’s also honored by people who believe in Islam and other religions,” said Stryker. “But from our perspective, from the Catholic perspective, he’s always been a special patron saint of those who fight a just war.”

The statue is in the veterans’ grotto on the grounds of the shrine.

The Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help is the only church-approved site in the United States to have a sighting of the Virgin Mary.