Wisconsin Teenage Pageant Winner Pays Tribute to Veterans in Milton
In the heart of Wisconsin, the newly crowned Miss Wisconsin's Teen, Natalie Popp, celebrated the Fourth of July weekend in Milton. During her visit, she toured the historic Milton House, Wisconsin's only authenticated Underground Railroad station open to the public, accompanied by her family and friend Dr. Lew Harned, a 100-year-old World War II veteran.
Natalie Popp's community focus as Miss Wisconsin Teen is on veterans, a cause close to her heart due to her family's instilled appreciation for thanking those who have served. This focus was evident in her tour of the Milton House, which was in honour of Union Civil War veterans who fought to abolish slavery.
The meeting between Natalie Popp and Dr. Lew Harned was not a recent one. They first crossed paths in May 2024, while volunteering at the River Food Pantry. Dr. Harned shared with Natalie his fear of being forgotten, which inspired her to share his story. As a result, she wrote and published a children's book about Dr. Lew Harned last year, titled "Lew for the Red, White, and Blue."
The book, which tells Dr. Harned's life story, was not the first time Natalie Popp had shown her dedication to community service and leadership, qualities emphasised by the Miss Wisconsin's Teen organisation. During her tour of the Milton House, she spent the afternoon at the Milton Fourth of July Festival in Schilberg Park, where she met members of the local community.
As Miss Wisconsin Teen, Natalie Popp will spend her year visiting towns across the state. In September, she will compete for the Miss America Teen title, continuing to champion her causes and spreading her message of gratitude towards veterans.
The Milton House Museum presents the history of the house and its role in the Underground Railroad, a network that helped thousands of escaped enslaved people reach the northern United States. This historical site serves as a reminder of the struggles and triumphs of the past, a lesson that Natalie Popp carries with her as she embarks on her journey as Miss Wisconsin's Teen 2025.
Natalie Popp, during her tour of the Milton House, which was significant due to its historical role in the Underground Railroad, mentioned her intention to incorporate home-and-garden projects into her community service platform as Miss Wisconsin's Teen, aiming to create welcoming spaces for veterans and local communities, aligning with her passion for enhancing lifestyles.
In the forthcoming year, while visiting towns across Wisconsin as Miss Wisconsin Teen, Natalie Popp plans to dedicate some of her time to home-and-garden projects, integrating these initiatives into her broader commitment to uplifting veterans and creating vibrant, inclusive communal environments, echoing her lifestyle focus on community service and leadership.
