[1]" In June 1920, students, faculty, and alumni, finally reached a decision and a campaign was started to raise the funds for the building.

[2] Ultimately, the present location, previously home to the "Sanitary Building" and the early facilities of the College of Veterinary Medicine, was dedicated on April 22, 1925.

This addition created the South Ballroom, the Pine Room, the original bowling alley in the basement, and expanded the existing Commons.

This addition included new mechanical offices and expanded kitchen and bookstore storage and sales areas as well as a new service dock with improved truck access.

The memorial envisioned by the students of Iowa State is embodied in the limestone walls and stained glass windows of the Gold Star Hall.

Located at the north entrance of the Memorial Union, the hall is named after a military tradition started in World War I.

[7] Above the north door to the hall, a quotation by the poet John Drinkwater is carved: For Thee they died Master and Maker, God of Right The Soldier dead are at Thy gate Who kept the spears of honor bright And Freedom's house inviolate.

In the vestibule, the following dedication is inscribed: A memorial to the six thousand Iowa State College men and women who offered their lives during the World War in the cause of human liberty and free government.

[8] Cummings, a member of the Iowa State Class of 1918 and World War I Veteran, took over the work of the committee and designed the windows from their concept.

[8] Each window is designed around one of twelve "homely virtues" for each window-Learning, Virility, Courage, Patriotism, Justice, Faith, Determination, Love, Obedience, Loyalty, Integrity, and Tolerance.

The top semicircular panel of each window depicts one of three emblems, the Dove of Peace, the American Eagle, and the Iowa State Campanile.

In 1942, sculptor Christian Petersen added four sculptures to the fountain, each a figure of a woman representing one of the seasons, Spring-east-planting corn, Summer-south-sheltering a young plant, Autumn-west-holding the harvest, and Winter-north-nursing a child.

The location symbolizes Proudfoot's belief that patriotism and democracy are supported by "religious conviction and a recorded history of dedication to those principles, a culture and a literature of concern for those high ideals.

Over the door to the north of the west entrance vestibule is a quotation by M.J. Riggs, Iowa State Class of 1883, and first president of the Memorial Union Board.