University Memorial Center Turns 60
Vets honored in campus hub
Sixty years ago, the UMC opened as aliving memorial to honor the service andsacrifice of all Colorado veterans. In theyears that followed, students came toeat, shop and meet with friends, but itwas not until 1976 when the student veteransassociation, along with the UMCBoard, established a Veterans Lounge.
Yet, many do not realize CU’s firstMemorial Student Union building, nowEconomics, was completed in 1931 as atribute to 55 CU veterans who foughtand died in World War I. Their namesare engraved in the northwest entrancefoyer. Outside, the word “Memoria” isetched in stone.
After World War II, a growing studentpopulation quickly outgrew the first memorialbuilding. While plans were under wayfor the UMC, Colorado Gov. Lee Knous(Law’11) expanded the university’s originalfocus to include all Colorado veterans whogave their lives in both world wars.
Today, UMC director Carlos Garciakeeps updated memorial plaques on theVeterans Lounge walls with the namesof nearly 1,000 Colorado veterans whohave died since World War I. This includes83 in World War II, 151 in Korea,595 in Vietnam, four in the Persian Gulf,34 in Afghanistan and 75 in Iraq.
“We owe it to all citizens of Coloradoto help us remember that freedom doesnot always come free,” Garcia says.
Photo from Coloradan yearbook 1954