Glidden in Carroll County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Merle D. Hay Memorial
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 16, 2025
1. Merle D. Hay Memorial
Co. F. 16th Infantry A.E.F.
The State of Iowa has caused this memorial to be erected to commemorate the sacrifice of Merle D. Hay and all his Iowa comrades who gave their lives for our country during the World War.
In a special vault in the base of this monument, resting in endless peace, is the body of Merle D. Hay.
Erected 1930 by State of Iowa.
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Patriots & Patriotism • War, World I. A significant historical date for this entry is November 3, 1917.
Location. 42° 3.853′ N, 94° 44.437′ W. Memorial is in Glidden, Iowa, in Carroll County. It is on Lincoln Highway (U.S. 30) 0.4 miles west of Sherwood Avenue (Arizona Street), on the right when traveling west. The monument is located on the south side of Merle Hay Memorial Cemetery (West Lawn Cemetery), facing US Highway 30. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 28185 US Highway 30, Glidden IA 51443, United States
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Regionally, this memorial is in Western Iowa. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 3 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Private Merle D. Hay (here, next to this marker); Glidden Liberty Rock Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Miracle Cornfield Landing of 1960 (approx. 6.1 miles away).
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Also see . . . Merle Hay Memorial Cemetery (City of Glidden).
Excerpt: Merle D. Hay was born and raised in Glidden, and was the first American soldier to be killed in the trenches of France during World War 1. The State of Iowa erected the Merle Hay Memorial in 1930, inscribed with a drawing by famous Iowa newspaper cartoonist Ding Darling, showing Uncle Sam carrying the lifeless body(Submitted on October 9, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)of a young soldier. In 1921, the major road to Camp Dodge in Des Moines was named Merle Hay Road in memory of this brave young Iowans sacrifice for his country.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 16, 20252. Merle D. Hay Memorial (center)This engraving is from a sketch by two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist for the Des Moines Register from 1906 to 1943, J. N. Ding Darling. The sketch, showing Uncle Sam carrying the lifeless body of a young soldier, ran in the Nov. 8, 1917, issue of the Des Moines Register.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 16, 2025
3. Merle D. Hay Memorial (left side)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 16, 2025
4. Merle D. Hay Memorial (right side)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 16, 2025
5. Merle D. Hay Memorial (base)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 16, 2025
6. Merle D. Hay Memorial
Looking north from US Highway 30; Merle Hay Memorial Cemetery (West Lawn Cemetery) is in the background.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 9, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 8, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 137 times since then and 61 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 9, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
