2021 Ceremony

Gold Star Hall Ceremony
Monday, November 8th, 2021 at 3:15 pm
Durham Great Hall of the Memorial Union

This important ceremony honors our Iowa State students who made the ultimate sacrifice fighting for the freedoms we enjoy. Their names are carved into the limestone walls of Gold Star Hall in the Memorial Union so that we may both remember and honor their service to our country, which merits our deep respect. 

Three World War II service members were honored during the 2021 ceremony:

Robert Abram Berwick
Hometown: Knoxville, Iowa
Years at Iowa State: 1940-1943
Ensign, Navy
Died on April 12, 1945 at Okinawa, Japan

William Conrad Ostlund
Hometown: Webster City, Iowa
Years at Iowa State: 1936-1937
Lieutenant, Navy
Died on April 18, 1944 at Iwo Jima

Don T. Griswold, Jr.
Hometown: Clarinda, Iowa
Years at Iowa State: 1936-1940
Ensign, Navy
Died on June 6, 1942 in the South Pacific

We shared photos, memorabilia, and the personal stories of how these Iowa State students became service members. The family and friends of our fallen heroes were in attendance so that they may see the names of their loved ones forever memorialized in the Gold Star Hall.