Posted on May 27, 2019 at 4:30 PM by Betsy Grabinski
The Gold Star Hall stained glass windows in the Memorial Union are a fitting connection to Memorial Day. The series of 12 stained glass windows were installed in 1943 and illustrate the "homely virtues" such as faith, determination, and courage. Imagery include emblems of the armed services, symbols for training offered at Iowa State, historic episodes and traditions, and religious symbols.
The windows were designed by artist Harold W. Cummings, a 1918 ISU alumnus, whose education was interrupted by military service in World War I. It was appropriate that he should have been selected as the designer. In addition to designing the windows, Mr. Cummings supervised their construction and installation. In effect he was designing a memorial not only for those who gave their lives in that conflict, but also for his own comrades.