June 20, 2017: The centerpiece of the Merle Hay monument in Glidden has artwork from “Ding” Darling. Click here for larger version.
One hundred years ago today, Merle Hay of Glidden became the first Iowan and one of the first three Americans to die in combat in World War I. He was 20 years old. The state of Iowa funded a monument to Hay, which was dedicated on Memorial Day 1930. Merle Hay Road and Mall are named for him, but the story behind the name isn’t told much.
The Annals of Iowa had a feature about Hay and Glidden in 1967, on the 50th anniversary.
Monuments to all of Glidden’s Civil War (left) and World War (right) dead in the Glidden cemetery. Besides Hay, 10 other Glidden soldiers lost their lives in the war.