Indiana's battle against Ohio State at Memorial Stadium highlights Hoosiers' strong commitment to the military
There are a couple of anti-aircraft guns and part of the USS Indiana, including the mast, sitting outside Memorial Stadium on the campus of Indiana University in Bloomington.
It’s all a tribute to the men and women from Indiana who have served in the armed forces of the United States.
As No. 5 Indiana, the defending national champion, hosts No. 4 Ohio State in a Big Ten college football mega-tilt on Saturday at Memorial Stadium, OutKick's Game of the Week, the connection between sporting events on campus and the military is undeniable.
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The importance of the military every single day at Indiana University is also undeniable.
"IU definitely has an upper echelon of military history, and they do really treat their military personnel with a lot of respect," said Vasiliios Koultourides, a senior at Indiana and a member of the Indiana National Guard. "They do really care about us. "
And Indiana University cares about its military history, not just by displaying relics outside the football stadium, but by chronicling the military service of every single person with ties to the university with a cherished, one-of-a-kind piece of history carefully and respectfully housed inside the school’s Memorial Student Union on campus.
The Golden Book at Indiana has its own hallowed room there. Dating back to 1898, the book is now a fragile specimen, protected in a clear plastic box that still allows for viewing.
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The Indiana Daily Student began the initiative to document military service by IU students and staff by publishing a list of those who served in the Spanish-American War. Next was an effort to compile a list of those who had served in the Civil War.
According to Indiana University’s website, each of the 152 pages of the book "lists the names of veterans as well as donors to IU’s Memorial Fund, which sponsored the construction of three buildings on campus in honor of those men and women: Memorial Hall, Indiana Memorial Union, and Memorial Stadium.
"Inside the book, carefully written by hand, are the names of IU alumni who served in the War of 1812, the Black Hawk War, the Mexican War, the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, the Philippine Insurrection, the Mexican Border Expedition, World War I, and World War II."
In 2016, Indiana University began a digital version of the Golden Book and now more than 25,000 names are listed.
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"I just think it's the coolest thing ever, and I think it's so unique," said Indiana student Zainab Diouf, who is a member of the Indiana National Guard. "No other school has that, so I think it's such a cool thing, and I really encourage if you're here at IU to go see it."
Koultourides certainly remembers the first time he saw the book. He was touring the Indiana campus while still in high school. The Golden Book mesmerized him.
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"I was like, whoa, I’ve never seen anything like this before. It's like a little chapel kind of, but I remember walking up to the book and just looking at it, and that's when it kind of hit me like, oh, this is a memorial for everyone that's ever been (in the military). It’s amazing to see how they've kept such in-depth records about these people's lives and service. It means a lot to know that you're not forgotten, and you'll forever be there and remembered. It's really cool to see."
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Indeed, make no mistake, Indiana University doesn’t forget its veterans, or its military-connected students. The school features a comprehensive Center for Veterans and Military Students that offers assistance with benefits, funding, scholarships, career guidance and more.
"The Center for Veterans and Military Students is awesome," Koultourides said." It's a nice area where you can sit, study, and then also meet individuals that are just like you who have shared experiences. Which is really important for a lot of people who have gone and actually deployed, and they come back to school."
Elsewhere on campus, Indiana’s military members are treated with equal importance.
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Most athletic teams at Indiana have "Salute to Service" games each season. In addition, military students and veterans have a role in countless athletic events, from running the color guard to helping the cheerleaders fire up the crowd.
At football games, military students pound out pushups after touchdowns. They also fire off a cannon.
"We just have such a big military-oriented culture here. At the football games, you'll see the ROTC on the field cheering on, helping cheer with the cheerleaders. I feel like IU just really loves its veterans and its veteran students and allows us to be students while understanding our service."
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That gratitude isn't lost on the students who have committed themselves to our country.
"It's a really nice experience for all of us to really have the opportunity (to be a part of IU's athletic culture)," Koultourides said. "And it shows how thankful they are for what we do for the community and for everyone who serves."
Is the military honored and showcased on your favorite college campus? Let me know at: patricia.babcockmcgraw@outkick.com