In the shadow of a towering grove of oak trees just west of Williams Hall, leaders from across MSU and the state of Michigan gathered in March to rededicate the Memorial Grove of the Great War.
Originally dedicated on June 19, 1919, the memorial was built in honor of the 33 students and alumni of the university (then known as Michigan Agricultural College) who died while fighting in World War I. The memorial was marked by a brass plaque engraved with each soldier’s name adorned to a field stone beside a grove of 33 oak trees.
More than a century later, university funding and community donations will help revitalize the site. When complete, the updates will include the addition of a dedicated patio and flagpole area, a courtyard space and a brick path leading up to the memorial, historical signage detailing the history of the memorial and the fallen soldiers as well as two benches flanking the field stone to provide an area for reflection.
“The struggles and battles endured by so many Americans of generations past have stitched valor, leadership and wisdom into the fabric of American society, fostering a safer and more inclusive world for all. Let the Michigan Agricultural College’s Grove of the Great War Memorial stand as a renewed symbol of remembrance, reflection and renewal for future generations.”
— Michigan National Guard Brigadier General Jeffrey Terrill, ’91
