USU saves artwork from landfill, honoring veterans with new memorial

LOGAN – Utah State University dedicates a new memorial honoring veterans with a new memorial in front of the Military Science Building.

Parts of the memorial had once been destined for the trash.

There used to be three bronze plaques featured in the Old Main Building on the campus of USU, but, that building was seriously damaged in a fire in the 1980’s.  They were collecting dust until 1994, when lawmakers authorized funding for major renovations.

 

“There were no plans to do anything with those plaques,” according to retired architect Stanley Kane.  He adds, “The contractors were about to put them in the landfill.  I took it upon myself to have the contractor give them to us.  I paid rent to store them for a number of years.”

Kane is from the British Isles, and he feels it’s important to honor those who sacrifice their time and their lives to protect others.  He says without the help of American soldiers in World War One, he would have been required to salute Hitler.

News of the plaques spread to Caine College of the Arts Dean Craig Jessop.  He says when the family of the sculptor who donated the statue of a World War One Doughboy found out about them, everyone went out of their way to make sure they were prominently featured.

“USU Facilities were instrumental.  They donated so much labor and time,” Jessop says, adding, “Every cadet that walks through these doors, now, will pass this memorial and will be reminded of the human lives and every story that was told that contributed to the freedom of our country.”