On May 25, 1986, dedication ceremonies were held for the Vietnam
War Memorial, the first on-campus commemoration in the nation. It
honors 57 students and alumni who died or were declared missing.
The 65-foot, L-shaped wall of native Kansas limestone, at the west
end of Memorial Drive, was created by Doran Abel, an architecture
major; Stephan Grabow, professor of architecture and urban design;
and Greg Wade, the university’s landscape architect. Student
Senate appropriations and donations from students, alumni and
veterans paid for the memorial.
This memorial, honoring 44 members of the university community
who died in that conflict, was dedicated April 16, 2005. The brick
and stone terrace overlooks Potter Lake west of the campanile. Its
centerpiece is a 7-foot copper sculpture, “Korean Cranes
Rising,” by design professor Jon Havener. The four entwined
cranes, ancient symbols of peace in the Korean culture, represent
the four nations in the conflict: the United States, China, North
Korea and South Korea. The memorial, designed by university
architectural services, was funded by donations from alumni and
foundations in Korea and the United States.
The World War II Memorial Campanile is
unquestionably the most distinguished landmark at the University of
Kansas. It was constructed in 1950 to honor the 277 students and
faculty who died serving their country in World War II. Their
names are engraved in the Virginia Greenstone on the east and west
walls of the Memorial Room at the base of the tower. The panels on
the south doors of the Memorial Room evoke the emotions and
tragedies of war while those on the north doors depict the history
of Kansas and the ideals toward which the University and humanity
continually strive.
The 120-foot Campanile,
designed by Homer F. Neville and built of native Kansas Limestone,
contains a 53-bell carillon cast by the John Taylor Bellfoundry,
Loughborough, England, during 1950-51. It was dedicated on May 27,
1951, and rededicated on April 26, 1996, following an extensive
renovation made possible by Joan and Keith Bunnel who are honorary
members of The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America. The
renovation was completed by the Verdin Company and Meeks &
Watson.
The Largest bell of the KU World War II
Memorial Carillon was dedicated to the memory of Olin Templin by
the KU Endowment Association to which he served as Executive
Secretary for many years. He graduated from the University of
Kansas in 1886 and returned in 1890 as the University's first
professional philosopher, establishing what are now the departments
of philosophy, sociology and psychology.
The tribute to Templin by the Endowment
Association was significant for the fact that, during the latter
years of Templin's long tenure at the University of Kansas, he
vigorously sought to construct a carillon tower to honor the memory
of the pioneering settlers of Lawrence for the devastating
hardships they had endured, especially during the Civil War years.
He set the site, obtained a bid for a 4-octave carillon from
Gillett and Johnston, and petitioned the Federal Government for the
funding he felt was owed to the citizens of Kansas for the losses
they incurred during the Civil War. He worked tirelessly to
publicize and achieve this dream.
Unfortunately, Templin died in 1943 before
the end of World War II. His dreams and plans were resurrected by
the Memorial Association Committee, established to determine, from
some seventeen proposals, which was the best choice for a memorial
to KU's war dead.
NOTES: Follow these links for more interesting
facts and recital schedule, Vietnam,
Korean,
WWII. Access
to central campus is restricted from 7:45 to 5:00 Monday through
Friday while school is in session, and 8:00 to 2:00 Monday through
Friday during the summer and at all other times. Parking
permits are enforced from 7:00 to 5:00 Monday through Friday. More
parking info here.
Parking tickets are $20.00, I know I got one. Info taken from
KU website(s) via copy/paste.
Congrats to byonke &
mojedo for Co-FTF!