Visiting the Gold Star Monument

Another Des Moines landmark, this one I knew. Located on the east side of the river at 700 East University, it's hard to not notice it sometime. Built in 1925, this monument commemorates one hundred sixty five Polk County men who were lost.

ERECTED IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF THE MEN FROM POLK COUNTY IOWA WHO MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE IN THE WORLD WAR THAT GOVERNMENT BY THE PEOPLE SHALL BE MAINTAINED AND THAT LIBERTY SHALL NOT PERISH FROM THE EARTH

Unfortunately, in researching a little about the monument, I ran across a disappointing story on the WHO website dated April 18, 2007.

Gerald LaBlanc is trying to save a piece of history. "Right after the Great War the wives and mothers of 165 boys all killed in battle had a donation drive and with those funds erected this Gold Star Monument. However, by the 1950's the wives and mothers had all passed on. And they left no endowment. The monument is absolutely abandoned."

The monument is showing its age and could use some maintenance. Fortunately, the Iowa Lutheran Hospital next door is cutting the grass or this story might have been even sadder.