MU Veterans Day ceremony has special significance this year
Not quite 100 years ago, the name and information about 27-year-old Carlisle "Chuck" Wilson was included with that of 97 other MU graduates who had died in World War I in a copper box and placed in the cornerstone of the Memorial Student Union.
The 98 MU alumni were those known to have died at the time during what was called The Great War, but research found that 117 in all perished in the conflict. All 117 names were read on Friday during a Veterans Day ceremony at Memorial Union.
It was Nov. 30, 1922, when the cornerstone for Memorial Student Union was placed 100 years ago. The iconic campus structure was built to honor MU alumni who died in World War I.
It was a gray day, clouds spitting drizzle, H. Riley Bock said of the day in 1922, based on a newspaper article of the event. It was Homecoming and Missouri beat Kanas 9-7.
Wilson was Bock's great-uncle. Wilson died six days before the end of the war, after being wounded on the second day of a battle, said Bock, of New Madrid, during Friday's ceremony.
Besides Wilson's name inscribed on the building, Bock said he also had a pocket watch his great uncle carried with him on the battlefield, which he displayed for those attending.
Fundraising for the building began in 1921, according to MU archives. It was at the same time funds were being raised for a Memorial Stadium. Students could pledge $100 and alumni $200 for a lifetime membership that came with free attendance at home football games. Within three days, students and alumni had raised $238,000.
Dedicated in 1926, the tower was the only structure in place for the next 25 years. Groundbreaking for a south wing took place during Homecoming 1930, but the Great Depression intervened. It was completed in 1963.
Construction on the north wing started in 1940 and it opened in September 1952.
The building underwent $3.5 million in roof and masonry work last year.
There are 1.5 million visitors to the building every year and graduates use Memorial Union as a backdrop for photos. Heath Immel, MU director of student unions, last year called the building "a treasure on campus."
Calling himself an "old vet," Richard Barohn, MU executive vice chancellor for health affairs, said he valued his time in the Air Force and Air Force Reserves.
He served during the Cold War, taking part in exercises to prepare for potential chemical or nuclear attacks, he said. The exercises were called "Red Ball Expresses."
"I cherish my time in the Air Force," Barohn said. "I was fortunate to serve in peacetime. The real heroes, those we are celebrating today, of course, served in time of war."
He acknowledged his 91-year-old father, Selwyn Barohn, in attendance, who served in the Korean War.
The program was organized by the Mizzou Student Veterans Association. Its president, Crystal Wiggins, said she is pursuing a master's degree in social work because of her interest in mental health and advocacy for veterans.
"We stand out in class," Wiggins said of student veterans. "Many students had not learned how to speak up for themselves. I was able to mentor them."
A color guard and Army, Navy and Air Force ROTC cadets participated in the ceremony, marching in formation from Lowry Mall to Memorial Student Union. The hour before, they had participated in a ceremony at the Boone County Courthouse and will stand vigil at a memorial there until 11:11 a.m. Saturday.
Two cadets collapsed during the ceremony, quickly assisted by fellow ROTC members.
Columbia College held a flag-raising ceremony and a moment of silence on Bass Commons Friday, part of a week of activities honoring veterans.
Roger McKinney is the Tribune's education reporter. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on Twitter at @rmckinney9.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: 100 years ago, cornerstone was placed in Memorial Student Union
