As we look ahead to Memorial Day, it’s easy to drift into thoughts of summer vacations, picnics and barbecues. But it is in honor of America’s soldiers that we set aside a day for reflection.

Memorials — holidays, monuments, stories — help us remember the sacrifices made. We need these memorials even more in these times of turmoil. We need them to help us understand where we have been and where we are going. That’s why I am eager to see the memorial at Fort Des Moines open this summer.

The fort has quietly existed on the South Side for decades. Many life-long Des Moines residents are unaware of its role in leading America toward greater racial and gender equality. The new memorial honors the establishment of the U.S. Army’s first officer candidate class for African-American men in 1917 and the formation of the first Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps training center in 1942. Both milestones took place right here in Des Moines.

The African-American officers who trained at Fort Des Moines distinguished themselves in World War I, and the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps freed 250,000 male soldiers for combat during World War II. The memorial project is connecting with these veterans and their families, capturing their stories of their time in Des Moines, their military careers and their lives after serving their country.

Fort Des Moines later served as a temporary home for thousands of troops returning from World War II. In 1949, the fort became an Army Reserve training center. Unneeded property was sold to private developers; the old buildings were torn down. As the fort shrank to half its former size, its history began slipping into obscurity.

In 1997, efforts began to build a memorial honoring the fort’s past. The Army set aside Clayton Hall, already named a National Historic Site, for the project, along with 4.6 acres within its training center. Business and community leaders raised $10 million to make the memorial a reality.

This summer, years of work will come to fruition. Clayton Hall will open July 25 as a fully restored museum and educational center. A monument listing the names of the women and African-Americans who completed officer training at the fort will be dedicated, along with a reflecting pool and a formal garden. The old chapel and a parade ground will reopen, fully restored. One hundred thousand visitors are expected each year.

Fort Des Moines played a role in moving America toward greater racial and gender equality, leading to greater acceptance of both African-Americans and women in the workplace and beyond. This part of our community’s heritage must be embraced and remembered.

During the world wars, businesses committed their resources to support the army officers training at the fort. Today, we work to endow the Fort Des Moines Memorial so that it becomes a lasting educational resource to our community — reminding us of our legacy and pointing toward a better future.

As you reflect on Memorial Day, please consider joining me in supporting the Fort Des Moines Memorial Park and Education Center.

Michael Earley is president of Bankers Trust Co. and serves on the Fort Des Moines Memorial Park and Education Center board of directors. Visit

http://www.fortdesmoines.org for details on the fort.