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In
the Memorial Building at UNH, where so much of the focus is on
student life, it is easy to forget that over 40 years ago it was
created as the Official State of New Hampshire War Memorial. The
word "Memorial" in the name doesn't refer to a famous
alumnus or to an affluent person who donated money, it refers
to all the NH residents killed in military action from World War
I through the Vietnam War. In the war Memorial Room on the top
floor of the MUB we honor the legacy of the many through our commemorative
plaques. We celebrate the sacrifice they made to defend freedom
throughout the world and mourn the loss of their potential in
our state. It is a New Hampshire version of the great monuments
in D. C. like the Vietnam Wall.
Some people wonder why a Memorial of such
significant scope wasn't built in Concord, our state capital.
When Governor Hugh Gregg signed the proclamation dedicating the
building he wrote that it was "desirable that as many youth
of the state as possible should know and revere the courage and
the sacrifice of New Hampshire men and women who served their
country". Gregg and the many community members who worked
to create this building wanted it to be a "living war memorial",
a place to prompt discussion and thought, a place for quiet refelection,
and a place of inspiration. By placing this building in our state's
supreme center of learning it was hoped that generations of students
to come would be inspired to have these discussions.
The growing University of the 1930's dearly
wanted to add a Student Union facility but was without a funding
source. It took the start of World War II with the tremendous
loss of lives in both the University community and the state at
large to prompt alumni to gather to raise money for a facility
that would be both the Union they needed and the Memorial which
would help the state to heal. UNH had its first World War II casualty
at Pearl Harbor. Ensign Edward B. Cloes, UNH '39, a resident of
Warner, NH was serving on the USS Arizona when it was bombed by
the Japanese. A destroyer escort vessel was named in honor of
Cloes. You will find his name on our Memorial room walls.
The most well known name to appear on
the wall of our Memorial room is probably that of Harl Pease,
UNH '39. Captain Pease, a native of Plymouth, NH was the third
man to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. His parents accepted
his medal posthously in his memory for action with the enemy near
Rabaul, New Britain. Pease was just returned from a mission and
was repairing his plane when he was called out a second time.
He took his battered plane into the air fighting 30 Japanese planes
before being shot down and taken POW. For some time his family
waited for word on his status and were finally notified he had
been killed in prisoncamp by firing squad. People held at the
same camp with Pease testified to his great courage and leadership
in adversity. Pease AFB, now Pease International Tradeport bears
his name as a monument to his spirit.
Take a moment to visit the MUB's Memorial
room and to reflect on the room's significance. Help make it the
"Living" war memorial so many people hoped it would
be and help perserve the memory of those who gave so much for
our state.
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