The belltower was built in memory of the university alumni dead in WWI. A big portion of those dies due to the spanish flu in 1918!
The tower was built slowly, as funds were available and just a couple of years ago it received a real set of bells, instead of the digitalcarillon that GI got so used to hear while I was a student (I lived 200m away)
One of the members of the WWI Centennial commision is alumni from NC State (Jerry Hester) , and thus this memorial was carried out in may while many others will continue until 11/11
The US Mint issued a silver dollar and some other events
The flowers are red poppies (amapolas rojas) which legend says that were the only ones that grew after the complete anhiliation of the western front
A big part of that is still RedZoned and forbidden to humans
In Flanders Fields
John McCrae, 1872 - 1918
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place, and in the sky,
The larks, still bravely singing, fly,
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead; short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe!
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high!
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Julio1fer wrote:A moving document. Is this a new memorial?