November 14 | Campus
Veterans Memorial Dedicated
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Photo by Nick Infusino |
A memorial to Northwestern's military dead was dedicated in the narthex (vestibule) of Alice Millar Chapel during the observance of Veterans Day Nov. 12.
The memorial features the word -- "REMEMBRANCE." The bronze letters, affixed to the wall, define the purpose of the memorial and serve as a preface to these words on a plaque:
“In honor of members of the Northwestern University Community who died while in military service”
There are five bronze rectangular plaques set on top of thick, amber-tinted glass that list the names of Northwestern faculty, staff, students and alumni who died while on active duty in the U.S. military. The names are listed at random and the date of death following each name is italicized. The deaths range from 23 March 1862 (Shepley, Charles H.) to 28 August 1976 (Wilson, Jeffrey T.).
On the right side of the memorial there is a small, asymmetrical bronze frame with the official Northwestern seal. It contains these words:
“The names on this memorial are those of Northwestern University students, alumni, faculty and staff who died while on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, mainly in time of war. Reflecting the discord of battle and confusion of war, the names listed here are arranged randomly, without regard to military rank, branch of service or date of death. We honor these people as members of the Northwestern community who died in service to our country.
“The roster has been compiled by the University Archives from various sources. Despite our best efforts to assemble and verify extant records pertaining to military deaths, we recognize that this roster may include errors. We regret any errors and omissions and request your help in making this memorial as complete and accurate as possible.”
The names on the memorial were obtained in a comprehensive search of available records, according to Leonard, and includes those who served in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, USAAF, Air Force, and Coast Guard, along with the names of Red Cross nurses, merchant mariners killed by German U-boats and at least one WASP.
The memorial, which was designed by Anita Ambriz, includes the names of those honored on monuments that were installed earlier at two locations on campus.
The names on the monument near Sargent Hall are included on the new memorial as are names on the NROTC monument between Norris University Center and University Library. Other names were drawn from the 1945 "Victory Edition" of the Alumni Directory and from records of past administrators, especially those of former President Franklyn Bliss Snyder. Names were also found in a search of every page of every issue of the Alumni News and the digitized version of the Chicago Tribune for the deaths of Northwestern affiliates.
The list of names was checked for accuracy against faculty and staff records and against the University's collection of alumni biographical files, said Kevin Leonard, associate University archivist. Further attempts to verify information were made by searching records of military deaths held by the U.S. National Archives and by the American Battle Monuments commission. Combat unit and ship histories were sometimes consulted as were records of local cemeteries, historical societies and archives.
At the dedication ceremony in Alice Millar Chapel, University President Henry S. Bienen delivered the opening remarks following the National Anthem performed by trumpet player Paul J. Florek, a School of Music student.
He said, “Countless Northwestern students, faculty, and staff have served in the United States military over the past century and a half. No memorial could possibly capture all of their names -- or our gratitude to them.
“Today, we engage in a more limited recognition -- of those who died while on active duty in the U.S. military.
“Several years ago, Captain Dan Moore -- Professor of Naval Science, Commanding Officer of our NROTC Unit, and himself a Northwestern graduate -- pointed out to me the fact that Northwestern has no single memorial to those who died while in service of the nation. I was pleased to commit funds to remedy this situation.”
Remarks were also made by Leonard; University Chaplain Timothy S. Stevens; and Earle H. LeMasters IV, Battalion Commander of NROTC at Northwestern. A wreath was placed at the memorial by Midshipman 1/C Travis J. Dziubla and Midshipman 1/C Caitlin T. Ferrarell. Master Sergeant C.S. Steele and an NROTC color guard also took part in the program.
The ceremony closed with the playing of “Taps” by Florek.