Skip to content
Iowa State University
INDEX A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

You are here: Home arrow About Memorial Union
  Print
E-mail

Gold Star Hall


gold star hall

gold star hallGold Star Hall is the "memorial" in the Memorial Union. In World War I, when a family had a son or daughter in the service, they displayed a card with a blue star in their window. When a life was lost, the blue star was changed to gold - hence the name, Gold Star Hall. (Click on the image for an enlarged image.)

When the Memorial Union opened in 1928, the names of Iowa Staters who died in World War I were carved into the walls. So thorough was the researcher's work, that no errors or omissions have ever been reported. In 1984, the names from World War II, Korea and Vietnam were added. Gold Star Hall embodies the memorium which the entire building represents.

This quotation is inscribed in the vestibule:

A memorial to the six thousand
Iowa State College men and women
who offered their lives
during the World War in the cause of
human liberty and free government.

This quotation by poet John Drinkwater is inscribed over the north door:

For Thee they died
Master and Maker, God of Right
The Soldier dead are at Thy gate
Who kept the spears of honor bright
And Freedom's house inviolate.

Below are the names that can be found in the memorial

You may also want to take a look at our Gold Star Hall Criteria.
For more information and pictures of the stained glass windows

 
[ Back ]