Southern Wisconsin Times

Congressman Bryan Steil and Congressman Scott Fitzgerald participated in a ceremony to dedicate the Colonel Hans Christian Heg Post Office in Muskego, Wisconsin. The dedication honors Col. Heg, a notable abolitionist and Civil War hero, whose statue was destroyed during the 2020 riots.

Steil and Fitzgerald co-sponsored H.R. 7199, which led to renaming the post office after Col. Heg. Steil remarked on Col. Heg's legacy: “Colonel Heg was an abolitionist, patriot, and military leader who died fighting to end slavery,” he said. “The destruction of his statue in Madison was a sad chapter of the 2020 riots. I’m proud to have helped lead legislation that will honor Col. Heg for generations to come.”

Fitzgerald also praised Col. Heg’s contributions: “Colonel Hans Christian Heg exemplified courage, patriotism, and selfless service to our nation,” he stated. “It’s only fitting that the Muskego Post Office will bear his name as a lasting tribute to his leadership in the Civil War and his deep ties to Wisconsin.”

Col. Hans Christian Heg was a Norwegian immigrant who spent part of his childhood in Muskego and Norway, Wisconsin. He became an anti-slavery activist and led an anti-slave catching militia to protect escaped slaves.

In 1861, he was appointed Colonel of the 15th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, which fought for the Union against the Confederacy during the Civil War. He gained recognition for bravery but was mortally wounded in Chickamauga, Georgia, in 1863.

The legislation honoring Col. Heg's sacrifice was initially introduced by Steil in 2020 and led by Fitzgerald with support from Wisconsin’s congressional delegation.