Gold Star Hall Ceremony

 
06 Nov 2023
 
4:15 PM
 
Great Hall, Memorial Union
Co-sponsors: 
  • Gold Star Hall Committee
  • Committee on Lectures (funded by Student Government)

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Gold 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 simple blue star in their window. When a life was lost, the card with the blue star was changed to one with a gold star - hence the name, Gold Star Hall. The blue/gold star tradition continues, with military families still displaying these symbols.

When the Memorial Union opened in 1928, the names of the Iowa Staters who died in World War I were carved into the walls. In 1969, the names of WWII casualties were mounted on two bronze doors in the zodiac foyer. In 1984, the bronze doors were removed, and the names from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam were engraved into the limestone inside Gold Star Hall. In subsequent years, additional names were engraved for WW I, WW II, Korea, Vietnam and the USS Liberty, as well as Somalia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Gold Star Hall embodies the memorium that the entire building represents. 

2023 Honorees

WWII
Thomas Henry Delamore
ISU: 1931-1938, Ag Engineering
Clare, IA and Ames, IA

WWII and Korea
Alfred Hiram Agan
ISU: 1942-1948, architectural engineering
Chariton, IA

Vietnam
James Lee Miller
ISU: 1961-1962
Maquoketa, IA

 

There will be a reception to follow the ceremony. This is a free event open to the public. The ceremony will not be recorded.

Gold 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 simple blue star in their window. When a life was lost, the card with the blue star was changed to one with a gold star - hence the name, Gold Star Hall. The blue/gold star tradition continues, with military families still displaying these symbols.When the Memorial Union opened in 1928, the names of the Iowa Staters who died in World War I were carved into the walls. In 1969, the names of WWII casualties were mounted on two bronze doors in the zodiac foyer. In 1984, the bronze doors were removed, and the names from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam were engraved into the limestone inside Gold Star Hall. In subsequent years, additional names were engraved for WW I, WW II, Korea, Vietnam and the USS Liberty, as well as Somalia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Gold Star Hall embodies the memorium that the entire building represents. 2023 HonoreesWWIIThomas Henry DelamoreISU: 1931-1938, Ag EngineeringClare, IA and Ames, IAWWII and KoreaAlfred Hiram AganISU: 1942-1948, architectural engineeringChariton, IAVietnamJames Lee MillerISU: 1961-1962Maquoketa, IA There will be a reception to follow the ceremony. This is a free event open to the public. The ceremony will not be recorded.