UNL seeks information on war memorial sundial stolen from East Campus

Officials at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln seek the return of a historic World War I memorial item stolen last weekend from East Campus.

A bronze-sculpted sundial, dating to 1920, was removed from its large limestone base. The limestone base is inscribed "In grateful remembrance of the boys who served in the World War by the class of 1920." The bronze sundial also has an engraved inscription on its front: "Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be."

The memorial was recently moved to its new location north of Agricultural Hall. The vandals pried the bronze sundial off the limestone base and the base remains. The large bronze dial was noticed missing Monday.

"We're obviously very unhappy with this," said John Marker, associate to the assistant vice chancellor of business and finance. "This isn't a prank. It's the loss of a real campus icon and a memorial to our World War I veterans. We want it back, no questions asked."

Anyone with information about the sundial's whereabouts can call University Police at (402) 472-3555. Marker said if anyone returns the item to Facilities Management and Planning offices at 1901 Y St., there will be no questions asked. Meantime UNL staff and police have inquired and searched for it at scrap metal outlets and online auctions and have alerted dealers to be on the watch for it. The value of the item is primarily sentimental as a veterans memorial, police said.

CONTACTS: John Marker, Facilities Management & Planning, (402) 472-4831;
Carl Oestmann, UNL Police, (402) 472-8430