Knox Web News Stories Mark Veterans Day
A 2010 campus exhibit (above) focused on the effects of World War II on the local community.
The Knox College website features a number of news stories that highlight student research, alumni reminiscences, and memorials on campus that focus on those who have served in the armed forces of the United States:
- Earlier this year, Knox alum James Doyle was formally presented the World War II service medals that he should have received some 60 years ago.
- Display of World War II reminiscences: Students in a 2010 public history class assembled interviews and artifacts illustrating how the war affected daily lives of people in Galesburg.
- Visiting a marketplace in Vietnam in 2001, Knox alumni V.R. "Swede" Roskam and his wife Martha purchased a bucket of "dog tags" once worn by American soldiers who had served in Vietnam forty years earlier. The Roskams spent ten years returning the tags to the rightful owners.
- Veterans Memorial rededicated: Housed in Memorial Gymnasium, which was named to honor the College's alumni veterans, a photo display commemorating Knox alumni who died in service of the United States in Vietnam, Korea, World Wars I and II was rededicated in 2003.
- A World War II "Victory ship" was named after Knox College. Also, two "Liberty ships" were named after Eugene Field and Don Marquis, two Knox alumni who were both well-known authors in the early part of the 20th century.
- Research connected student with veterans: In a 2002 oral history research project, student Greg Kupsky interviewed veterans about their experience during World War II.
- Knox College historian Hermann Muelder published an essay (PDF) in 1987 on the Massachusetts 54th, the African-American military unit in the Civil War that was featured in the film Glory.
- A Knox magazine feature by alum and military historian George Eaton recounted the history of U.S. Army Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Knox. Below, a photograph from the Knox College Archives shows an ROTC formation south of Old Main.
Published on November 11, 2011