If you want to understand Iowa, you have to understand this: when the country has called, Iowa has answered — every single time, and then some.

In the Civil War, Iowa sent more than 76,000 soldiers to fight for the Union — more per capita than any other state in the nation. That tradition never stopped. Over 114,000 Iowans served in World War I. More than 226,000 in World War II. Roughly 85,000 in Korea. Another 115,000 in Vietnam. Thousands more in the Gulf, in Iraq, in Afghanistan.

Today, nearly 159,000 veterans call Iowa home — about 1 in every 16 adults in this state has worn a uniform.

Des Moines is no different. This city has sent its sons and daughters, its neighbors and classmates, into every major conflict this country has ever faced. Some came home. Some didn't. All of them deserve to be remembered.

Iowa Veterans Cemetery — Official State Memorial Day Ceremony 📅 Today · 8:00 AM 📍 34024 Veterans Memorial Dr, Van Meter, IA (just 20 minutes west of Des Moines on I-80)

This is the real one, Des Moines. The Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs is holding the official State of Iowa Memorial Day Ceremony this morning at 8 AM at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter. Keynote speaker Colonel Eric Soults will lead the remembrance. It is free, open to every Iowan, and you still have time to get there.

The cemetery sits on a hilltop above the Raccoon River Valley with sweeping views of the rolling Iowa countryside — one of the most peaceful and meaningful places in our state. If you have never been, this is the year to go.

Can't make it? Watch it live on the IDVA Facebook page →

🔗 dva.iowa.gov

🏛️ Iowa Gold Star Museum — Johnston (Free, always)

Located at Camp Dodge just north of the city, the Iowa Gold Star Museum is Iowa's premier military museum — over 30,000 square feet of exhibits covering Iowa's military history from the Mexican War of 1846 to today. Retired military vehicles, 150+ weapons, vintage aircraft, and a library with over 5,000 military reference books. Bring your ID — it's on an active military base. Admission is always free. 🔗 goldstarmuseum.iowa.gov

🏛️ Fort Des Moines Museum & Education Center — South Des Moines (Free)

This one is a hidden gem that too few Des Moines residents know about. Fort Des Moines served as the first and only training site for African American officers during World War I, and during World War II it was the first training site for the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps. The museum tells both of those extraordinary stories through exhibits, uniforms, personal letters, photos, and a short film featuring actual WAC veterans. It is a National Historic Landmark — and free to visit.

📍 75 E Army Post Rd, Des Moines Note: Regular hours are Saturdays 10 AM–4 PM. Call ahead to confirm holiday hours: (515) 400-3678 🔗 fortdesmoinesmuseum.com

🏛️ State Historical Museum of Iowa — Downtown Des Moines (Free)

Right next to the Capitol building, the State Historical Museum has a dedicated Civil War section that explores what inspired more than 76,000 Iowans to fight for the Union and the role they played in the bloodiest chapter of American history. If you want Iowa's military legacy told within the full story of our state, this is where to find it.

📍 600 E Locust St, Des Moines 🔗 history.iowa.gov/visit/state-historical-museum-iowa

🌿 Glendale Cemetery — Des Moines

Glendale has been part of this city since 1904, and within its grounds sits the GAR section — the Grand Army of the Republic — where Civil War veterans from Des Moines are buried. No ceremony, no schedule. Just a quiet, meaningful place to walk, reflect, and pay your respects to people who served before most of us were born.

📍 4909 University Ave, Des Moines 🔗 dsm.city/Glendale_Cemetery323.php

🏅 Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum — Waterloo (2 hrs north)

Five brothers from Waterloo enlisted together after Pearl Harbor and insisted they be allowed to serve together. All five were lost when their ship, the USS Juneau, was torpedoed in November 1942 — the largest single family loss in American military history. The museum honors their sacrifice alongside all Iowa veterans, with 35+ interactive exhibits, a Wall of Honor, and over 1,500 recorded veteran oral histories. Genuinely moving. 🔗 groutmuseumdistrict.org/sites-exhibits/sullivan-brothers-iowa-veterans-museum

🚂 Restored Burlington Northern Depot & WWII Museum — Red Oak (1.5 hrs southwest)

During WWII, Montgomery County Iowa lost more men per capita than any other county in the United States. Red Oak turned its beautifully restored 1903 train depot into a museum to honor them — exhibits on the front lines and the home front, a reading library, and a theatre. A small-town Iowa gem not enough people know about. 🔗 redoakdepotmuseum.com

⚰️ Keokuk National Cemetery — Keokuk (3 hrs southeast)

Iowa's only federally designated National Cemetery, established during the Civil War in 1862. One of the most historically significant veteran burial sites in the Midwest, open to visitors dawn to dusk every day of the year. 🔗 cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/Keokuk.asp

📋 Full Statewide List of Iowa Military Sites

The Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs maintains a complete directory of military museums, historical markers, and veteran sites across all 99 Iowa counties. 🔗 dva.iowa.gov/about/iowa-military-history

Today is not about sales. It's not about the long weekend. It's about remembering. If you have kids at home — or just want to understand the full story behind this day — here are a few worth your time:

For everyone — the history behind the holiday: The History Channel's "History of Memorial Day" covers how Decoration Day was born after the Civil War and became the national remembrance it is today. 🔗 Watch on YouTube →

For kids — simple, clear, and respectful: The "Memorial Day for Kids" video from Twinkl USA walks children through what Memorial Day is, why we observe it, and how to honor it in age-appropriate language. 🔗 Watch on YouTube →

For the curious — the forgotten origins: Historian Kenneth C. Davis digs into the lesser-known history of how Memorial Day actually started and why it still matters today. 🔗 Watch on YouTube →

You don't need to attend a ceremony to make today meaningful:

Put a flag out. The oldest and simplest act of remembrance there is.

Say a name out loud. If you had a family member, neighbor, or friend who served and didn't come home — say their name today. That is what this day is for.

Look them up. The VA's Veterans Legacy Memorial lets you find any veteran buried in a national cemetery, leave a tribute, and read their story — free at va.gov/remember

Share this issue with someone who served, or someone who lost someone who did.

We'll be honest — when we've asked for community stories in the past, we haven't gotten a lot of response. But this one feels different, and we're asking anyway.

If you have a photo, a memory, or a story about someone who served — we want to hear it.

It doesn't have to be long. A name, a branch, a photo, a sentence about who they were. We're building a special page on the Des Moines Digest website to honor those who served, and if we get enough submissions, we'll feature them this Thursday.

Every story will be published permanently at desmoinesdigest.com/memorialday26 — a place where Des Moines can remember them together, long after today.

👉 Submit your story → desmoinesdigest.com/memorialday26

Today, we remember. Thank you, Des Moines, for being a community that shows up — for each other, and for those who gave everything.

See you Thursday. 🌱

— Alex | Des Moines Digest 📘
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