Trending
JOHNSTON -- As Iowans prepare to observe Veterans Day, the Iowa
National Guard is sharing a new tribute to 22 soldiers who made the
ultimate sacrifice in service to their state and nation since Sept. 11, 2001.
The Hall of Honor, located inside Joint Force Headquarters in Johnston, was
formally dedicated Oct. 22 during a private ceremony attended by Gold Star
families, Iowa National Guard leadership and distinguished guests.
The permanent exhibit features a display case, banners, and 22 individual plaques
displaying the photographs and names of Iowa National Guard Soldiers who died
while serving in support of military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria
during the Global War on Terror. Each plaque also provides access to an
individually produced video tribute, allowing visitors to learn more about the
soldier’s life, service and legacy.
The Hall of Honor was created to ensure future generations
of soldiers, airmen and Iowans understand the lives behind the uniforms and the
extraordinary sacrifices made by these individuals and their families.
“This Hall of Honor is more than a corridor within the walls of our state
headquarters. It represents a solemn promise to our fallen and their families that
their courage, their service and their stories will never be forgotten,” said Maj.
Gen. Stephen Osborn, adjutant general of the Iowa National Guard. “Long after
we are gone, future generations will walk these halls, see their faces, learn their
names and understand the true cost of service and sacrifice.”
The 22 soldiers represented in the exhibit came from communities throughout
Iowa, ranging in age from 20 to 48. Their service spans more than two decades,
from 2003 through December 2025.
Gold Star families are the surviving loved ones of service members who made
the ultimate sacrifice. Eligible family members may receive the Gold Star Lapel
Button or other official recognition acknowledging their loved one’s death in
military service and the lasting loss experienced by the family.
For the families of the fallen, the Hall of Honor provides a permanent place to
reflect, remember and share the stories of their loved ones.
The project was developed in close coordination with the Iowa National Guard’s
Survivor Outreach Services (SOS) program, part of the U.S. Army’s official long-
term survivor support network. The program provides continued care, resources
and connections to surviving families of fallen Soldiers from the active Army,
Army Reserve and Army National Guard.
Its mission reinforces an enduring commitment to military survivors: “Never
Forgotten…Never Alone.”
Through this coordination, families were able to contribute photographs,
biographical information and personal memories, helping ensure the exhibit honors
not only the military service of the fallen, but also the lives they lived and the
people they were.
“This Hall belongs to our Gold Star families as much as it belongs to the Iowa
National Guard,” Osborn said. “Their loved ones will forever be part of our Guard
family, and this exhibit ensures their legacies will continue to inspire those who
serve long into the future.”
The creation of the Hall of Honor was made possible through the dedication of
Iowa National Guard personnel, Survivor Outreach Services and the generosity of
contributors and supporters from communities across the state. Their collective
commitment helped transform a vision of permanent remembrance into a
meaningful tribute for families and future generations.