Iowa State’s annual Gold Star Hall Ceremony is almost here, honoring students who lost their lives while serving in the military.
This year’s ceremony is set for 4:15-5 p.m. Wednesday in the Durham Great Hall, welcoming the Iowa State community and the public to remember the lives behind each name in the Gold Star Hall.
Administrative assistant and event coordinator Lana Seiler said the focus of the ceremony is clear.
“We want to honor the students whose names are in the Gold Star Hall,” Seiler said. “We want to remember their stories as not just names, but the lives they lived.”
Seiler shared that the ceremony will also offer a chance for families and friends of the honorees to attend and be recognized for their own sacrifices.
This year, three former Iowa State students who served in major conflicts of the 20th century will be honored. Seiler said these honorees were chosen carefully.
“All three honorees this year are from Iowa,” Seiler said. “All three spent different amounts of time at Iowa State, from one year to graduating after four years.”
She continued by pointing out that, even though they attended Iowa State years ago, they experienced the campus in ways familiar to today’s students.
“They participated in clubs, took classes, studied, lived in residence halls and walked on central campus,” Seiler said. By honoring these students, she added, “We’re reminded that these aren’t just names on a wall… Each name represents an ISU student.”
Seiler said the Gold Star Hall creates a lasting bond between students, past and present.
“The Gold Star Hall connects our current students with our former students,” Seiler said, describing it as “a living memorial” where each name stands for an individual who “faced tough decisions, had families and friends that loved them, and ultimately answered the call to serve their country.”
The ceremony’s impact on families has been profound.
“Family members of those who have been honored in past ceremonies have said they feel deeply honored that their loved one is being remembered,” Seiler said.
Some families travel far, with several even arranging family reunions around the event to gather in remembrance.
“Everyone has a story,” Seiler said. “We are honored that we get to learn more about these former ISU students, and after reading their stories out loud at the ceremony, the stories will be put online in the Gold Star Hall database for people to read at any time.”
As the Iowa State community prepares for this year’s ceremony, Seiler said she hopes all attendees take a moment to reflect on the significance of Gold Star Hall.
“I would like all students to learn why it is there and to learn the story of one person in the Hall,” Seiler said. “Each name represents a life lived, a story worth remembering.”
This year’s Gold Star Hall Ceremony promises to be a meaningful and impactful event, continuing Iowa State’s tradition of honoring service through remembrance and respect.
