Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Table of Contents

Tours

  1. Special Interest Tours

    • Veterans Memorial Tour

      A tour of veterans memorials and points of interest.

      Stops

      1. Sutton Flagpole

        There are displays and memorials across campus commemorating the service and sacrifice of our military and veterans. 

        The flagpole adjacent to Sutton Hall is a memorial to veterans and has long been a part of IUP history. It was originally placed on the campus in 1925 in the center of the Oak Grove near Leonard Hall as a gift by the Class of 1915.

        In 1953, the flagpole was renewed by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1989, and relocated to a more prominent location on campus. It was once again updated during construction of Jane E. Leonard Hall.

        The original plaques were relocated to the new base of the flagpole.

        See more by scrolling through the photos above. To continue to the next stop on the tour, select a location below. 

      2. Iraq and War on Terror Memorial

        Unveiled on Veterans Day 2018, IUP’s newest veterans memorial honors veterans of Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom (the Global War on Terrorism). 

        Titled “Answering the Call,” this monument sits between the Sutton Hall flagpole and Leonard Hall. It was proposed, commissioned, and funded by IUP’s Rho Tau Chi military service fraternity and constructed by IUP art students. 

        The monument features a gold medallion and the phrases “on shoulders of courage” and “we stand free” and uses the same type of black granite used in the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC.

        Learn more about the monument and watch a video of its dedication and unveiling

      3. Sutton Hall Memorial Plaque

        Located on the first floor of John Sutton Hall near the Blue Room, this plaque was mounted in honor of the men and women of Indiana State Teachers College who served their country in World War II and in memory of those who made the supreme sacrifice.

      4. Vietnam Veterans Memorial

        IUP has the distinction of having been the first university in the United States to have a Vietnam Veterans Memorial on its campus. 

        In 1981, the idea for a memorial originated with Robert J. Gault ’83, a veteran of the US Marines and past president of the IUP Veterans Club. His idea was shared with and supported by student veterans on campus, the Army ROTC Department, President John E. Worthen, R&P Coal Company, Bill Kegel, and others. 

        For more than a year prior to the dedication, the IUP Veterans Club and the IUP Military Science Department, with the support of then-President John Worthen, worked on designing and building the memorial. 

        Tom Borellis, former IUP director of student housing development, along with his partner in the firm, Bill Mullin, were key in the design and selection of the materials, including the rock that was donated and delivered to the site by the R&P Coal Company.

        The memorial, which was placed near the former Leonard and Keith halls, was dedicated at noon on November 11, 1982. The university received letters of support on the occasion of the dedication. One such letter, dated November 8, 1982, was from Congressman John P. Murtha, himself a Vietnam veteran, in which he stated, “I feel it is fitting that those dedicated persons who served or presently serve our country be honored in this way.” 

        A second letter was from Dodie Livingston, special assistant to President Reagan, in which she pointed out, “President Reagan was very happy to hear about the dedication of a memorial to Vietnam Veterans on the campus of Indiana University of Pennsylvania on November 11th.” She also stated, “The President has asked me to send you the enclosed copy of his Veterans Day Proclamation and his warmest good wishes to all who will be with you on this very special day.” 

        The originals of these documents from the White House are now housed in the IUP Special Collections and Archives in Stapleton Library. 

      5. September 11 Memorial

        In addition to memorials for those who have given their lives in service, IUP also remembers the 3,000 people who lost their lives in the attacks on September 11, 2001. It features a piece of debris from the World Trade Center, which is on long-term loan from the Kovalchick Corporation. The relic was dedicated October 4, 2002.

        It is accompanied by a granite memorial in honor of all those lost in the attacks, including three alumni who died in the World Trade Center: William Moskal ’79, Donald Jones ’80, and William Sugra ’93.

        Scroll through the photos to read the plaques that are part of this poignant memorial.

      6. Vietnam Memorial at Pierce Hall

        There are three memorials for individual veterans of the Vietnam War at Pierce Hall.

        One is at the foot of a tree at the front of the building along Maple Street in honor of Captain Robert M. Young, who died while a captive in Cambodia on September 17, 1972.

        The second memorial is a student lounge named for First Lieutenant James K. Flannery, a tank unit commander who was killed by hostile enemy fire in Quảng Tri Province, South Vietnam on April 16, 1970.

        The third is for Major Richard John Curry, who died February 23, 1969, in Biên Hòa Province, South Vietnam.

      7. Memorial Field House

        On May 28, 1966, the largest and most significant memorial facility on campus, Memorial Field House, was dedicated to the memory of alumni of IUP who lost their lives in the US Armed Services. 

        The Indiana Evening Gazette reported that Lt. General William F. Twain, commanding general of the First US Army, presented the dedication address at the new Field House. The article also listed those to whom the building was dedicated for their service. 

        Among those honored as of 1966 were:

        World War I

        Wilmer H. Beckley, Harry Fee, Clifford Morrow, Thoburn Smith, J. Charles Sutton, and Samuel F. Weigle.

        World War II

        Joseph R. Abele, Steve Barto, Thomas Bianco, Joseph Croushore, Charles Daugherty, Jr., Norman E. Davis, Charles W. Deptola, Harold Newton Diem, Frank S. Evanko, Robert Louis McGrew, William D. Gahagen, W. Wayne Henderson, Chester E. Howe, Donald G. Kime, Donald King, Nicholas Kish, John Justin Kline, Leonard J. Litzinger, Howard E. Porter, James Vernon Reams, Merle T. Scholl, John Wayne Scott, Effie L. Shields, Samuel R. Shumaker, Albert C. Surra, Laird D. Travis, Lawrence D. Varner, Louis E. Wells, C. William Winger, and Kenneth A. Woodle.

        Korean War

        Paul B.Warner

        Vietnam War

        Harold A. Preisendefer and Clark Robb

        First Lieutenant Ronald Lee Johnston was added to the plaque located in the lobby of Memorial Field House after his death on March 12, 1967.

      8. Military and Veterans Resource Center

        The Military and Veterans Resource Center in Suites on Maple East serves as a resource, information, and referral site to help our military and veteran students transition to college life and achieve their academic goals. 

        For veterans and military-affiliated students, the center offers a lounge with free coffee, cable TV, and Netflix, a computer lab with free printing and scanning, and a fully-equipped conference room.

        The resource center opened on April 4, 2014, with a dedication and remarks from IUP President Michael Driscoll, Vice President of Student Affairs Rhonda Luckey,  Cpt. Dave Sabulsky, student Aaron Douthit, Col. Stephen Abel, Desmond Mullins, and other dignitaries and veterans.

        A case of unique historical memorabilia, including Iwo Jima coins donated by Navy veteran Joshua Kramer, is displayed outside the center.

        IUP offers resources to its future, present, and past service members and recognizes them for their service.