by CRAIG COLEY
photography by MARTIN BOLING
Veterans have been an important part of Bloomington since its founding in 1818, when early settlers included soldiers who had fought in the Revolutionary War. David Maxwell, known as the father of Indiana University, was a surgeon in the War of 1812, and numerous campus buildings—including Maxwell Hall and Willkie and McNutt quadrangles—are named for specific veterans, while others honor veterans generally: Memorial Stadium, Memorial Union, Memorial Hall. In addition to those veterans who call Bloomington their hometown, others have come to the city to take advantage of higher education benefits at Indiana University. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about one in 10 men in Monroe County is a veteran.
