In Memory of Our Students
Who Gave Their Lives in the Service of Their Country

The World War I service flag honoring all First District Normal school students who had served in the armed forces was dedicated by President Eugene Fair on July 18, 1918, and a Soldiers Memorial Fund was established to create some type of permanent memorial to those who had died.  This memorial eventually took the form of two bronze plaques which were completed and installed February 1928; one contained the text of Fair’s 1918 speech and the other, a list of the honorees.  They were quietly hung in the Library when received; no formal ceremony was held.

A list of the Northeast Missouri State students who lost their lives and President Walter Ryle’s 1942 service flag dedication address appear on two World War II memorial plaques.  They were unveiled by four men and women representing student veterans at an Armistice Day program in Kirk Auditorium, November 11, 1948.  Brigadier General Willard W Irvine’s dedicatory address was followed by taps and a 3-volley gun salute by MacDougall-Lowe American Legion Post No 20.

Dedication of the Korean War memorial was held in Kirk Auditorium on Veterans Day, November 11, 1957.  Lt Col Robert L McKinney, Assistant to the President, gave the address and Janet Howell, daughter of Capt Robert Newland Howell Jr, unveiled the plaque on which her father’s name appears. The ceremony closed with taps and a 3-volley gun salute by MacDougall-Lowe American Legion Post No 20.

The Viet Nam War memorial plaque, sponsored by the campus Veterans’ Club, was dedicated in a solemn Veterans Day ceremony on the Quad, November 11, 1980.  Club President Sam Guzzo and University President Charles McClain unveiled the plaque and Bill Elmore, President of the National Organization of Concerned Veterans, gave the dedicatory address. 

In the spring of 2009, the four memorial plaques were permanently installed on the covered & lighted wall at the entrance to the Ruth W Towne Museum & Visitors Center, northeast corner of Normal & Franklin Streets (across from McClain Hall).

Click on plaque for larger view
Service flag dedication address plaques are not shown here, but text transcripts may be requested
 

In honor of the former students of this school
who gave their lives in the World War
1917-1918

In honor of the former students of this college
who gave their lives in World War II
1941-1945

In honor of the former students of this college
who gave their lives in the Korean War
1950-1953

In honor of the former students of this university
who gave their lives in the Viet Nam War
1962-1973

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