Alta Vista Cedar Rapids Chickasaw County Fayette County Protovin Spilville Top of Iowa, Worth County |
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Grant Wood Memorial Window Location: Veterans Memorial Building I have not seen this memorial, which was spotted by my boxing coach, Israel Gonzalez, when he took some of his IzzyDuzItFitness boxers to a fight event held in the basement of the Veterans Memorial Building. Two of my big loves come together at this spot, then--boxing and World War I, and I wasn't there! (My thanks to Coach Izzy for the photograph at left.) As the link above indicates, the window was installed in what was once a recreation room at the Quaker Oats Company. This was done in 1928, and was Wood's first work in stained glass. The large central figure (it is 16 feet tall) represents the Republic. The photo of workers outside the window, below, give a good sense of perspective. At her feet are soldiers from six wars: the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, and World War I. The window has been recently restored. |
The list of names for the Vietnam era is not complete. No Frantzens are listed, but three of us served in this era (David, Dennis, Allen). I did not see Wayne Frantzen listed anywhere, either (1960s).
I wonder how this memorial was put together and how it was researched. Obviously it was funded locally, and local people who contributed (who knew about the project) were remembered, not others. See the Fayette County memorial, this page, for evidence of much more aggressive sponsorship.
The cemetery of the Catholic Church and the large and impressive memorial for William J. Ira, 1892-1915, who served in the 88th Division; he is buried with his father, Joseph, 1861-1953, and his mother, Mary, 1862-1938. There are two Veterans Administration markers, so the father seems to have served also.