LSU Rededicates Memorial Oak Grove on the 100th Anniversary of Armistice Day

11/13/2018

BATON ROUGE – LSU’s Memorial Oak Grove has been reimagined as a prominent place of remembrance, and on Sunday, Nov. 11, the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, a rededication ceremony was held on campus at the site. 

During the rededication ceremony, the LSU Corps of Cadets conducted a roll call of the 30 men honored as part of the Memorial Oak Grove. Descendants of those honored in the memorial were invited to attend the ceremony, which included remarks from LSU's Interim Executive Vice President & Provost Stacia Haynie, a dedicatory prayer, the LSU Alma Mater and Taps. 

"In coming together now, we reaffirm a commitment that was made in 1926 – LSU will not forget those who sacrificed and served and nor will we," Haynie said. "In rededicating Memorial Oak Grove on this, the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day, we renew promised to honor the ideals that have always made our nation great."

The Memorial Oak Grove was originally dedicated on March 12, 1926, to honor the 30 LSU men who lost their lives in the war. Thirty-one live oak trees were planted, one for each of the fallen and one for an unknown soldier, as a living reminder of their sacrifice and service to the country. Plans have been in the works to improve the landscaping and to provide an educational component to tell the story of those who are memorialized, the grove itself and the war.

Haynie said, "The trees that you see here today and that we commemorate are an especially apt memorial, for they draw their great strength from the same soil that supported each of the young men to whom they are dedicated. With the passing of time, their majestic canopy, which now defines Memorial Oak Grove, has symbolically united the lives, service and sacrifice of LSU’s own."

LSU’s military traditions date from its founding in 1860. As with other institutions which have a strong military history and heritage, LSU experienced the pain caused by the loss of lives of many of its alumni who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the nation’s armed forces. Several memorials have been established on campus in their honor and serve as vivid reminders of their service and sacrifice.

Below is a full list of those honored at the Memorial Oak Grove: 

 

Video: LSU's Memorial Oak Grove Rededication

 

Contact Ernie Ballard
LSU Media Relations
225-578-5685
eballa1@lsu.edu