For many years, towns and villages in Germany sought to improve their locations through a program called “Unser Dorf Soll Schöner Werden”, which translates literally to “our village shall be more beautiful.” Many towns’ residents worked hard each year to
spruce up their homes, their streets, their public areas, seeking the national recognition the program provided.
While we don’t have such a program here in Menomonie, we do have people working to make our community more attractive, cleaner, more livable.
One of those people is Patrick Bjorge, who has walked our north Menomonie neighborhood daily for years, maybe two decades or more, picking up litter. He walks almost the full length of Wilson Street down to the Public Library daily.
He’s been an idol for my wife and I, even though we had never ever chatted. So one morning a couple of months ago he passed our home; it was time to investigate.
I hopped in the car and chased him down at Wolske Bay Park. I asked him if anyone had ever interviewed him about all the beautifying of our neighborhood he had done for so many years. (Marilee, my wife, who has been retired for 13 years, would often come
home from teaching at Cedar Falls Elementary and say, “I saw him again)!”
Not only does he walk but he brings a trash bag with him to pick up whatever he finds, and if he sees something across the street he goes to remove that litter too.
I started our conversation inquiring if I might ask him a few questions – while also stating he has been an inspiration to many of us for so many years. He said I could but that he was also busy; he kept on working.
Patrick Bjorge, our inspirational walking man, said our land is not a landfill and that folks should be fined $1,000 for each littering occurrence.
Our first chat lasted for just a few minutes. Patrick, a 65-70ish year-old man moved from Blair, WI to Menomonie to attend UW-Stout. Twenty-five years ago he was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes with the concern of possibly losing his sight and/or having a major kidney problem. His doctor told him to watch what he ate and to exercise. (Patrick’s daily walks to clean up Menomonie helps him with the exercise
part of that recommendation).
As I could feel that he was getting eager to get back to his litter pick-up mission, I asked Patrick whether he was open to having his story shared. He is a humble man, not looking for accolades. He agreed to talk again.
A couple of months later, I had the opportunity to chat with Patrick as he was again walking the trail in north Menomonie with his litter pick-up tool and his garbage bag.
A nice, caring guy, I learned he was a former U.S. Marine. This humble man and I talked for about 10 minutes as he continued on his cleanup route, covering some of his history. He has quite a story to share, though he clearly seeks no personal recognition.
I believe Patrick Bjorge is an inspiration for all of us as he seeks to make our “village” a cleaner and more beautiful place to live.
We need others following his quiet example.
Steve Tillison is a north Menomonie resident and a retired middle school math teacher.
