The Merle Hay Memorial Cemetery is owned by the City of Glidden and is located on US Highway 30. Internment information can be found here or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

A map of the cemetery is here.

Veteran's Memorial

Avenue of Flags

Merle D. Hay

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.  

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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 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 Iowan’s sacrifice for his country.

Merle Hay Funeral Service

Merle Hay Memorial Service

Merle Hay Monument