Honor the Sacrifice of US Veterans in the Heart of the Midwest at Folded Flags in Iowa

In West Des Moines Iowa, a glowing art installation stands out in the dark of night as a place of quiet reflection and symbol of the service of US military veterans.

Folded Flags — a grouping of 15 folded American flags that stand tall and proud on Veterans Park Highway — are hard to miss at night as they light up from within. But more than their soft blue glow, the flags are a reminder of the hardships and sacrifices of US veterans and a way to pay tribute for all they’ve done.

Honoring the Service of Veterans

Officially dedicated on Flag Day in 2019, Folded Flags gives visitors of all ages and walks of life a place to reflect and remember the dedication and service of veterans.

Folded Flags is located at the intersection of Brown’s Woods Drive and Veterans Parkway in West Des Moines.

Folded Flags is a series of 15 standing folded flags — each of which stands 15 feet tall. These towering flags are arranged in a triangle formation and attract the attention of residents and visitors alike, especially at night when they glow from within.

An American flag is folded into a triangle as a sign of respect when it gets taken down. Folded flags are also presented to families of veterans as a part of the ceremonies that honor the death of a veteran.

A triangular folded flag is called a pennon or a pennant and when it is properly folded one side displays six stars and one side displays four. All of the Folded Flags flags display six stars.

Folded Flags is the first phase of an ongoing, first-of-its-kind project designed to enhance Veterans Parkway in West Des Moines and hatched from discussions and meetings that began in 2017.

Veterans Parkway opened in 2019 after years of construction and serves as a major thoroughfare in West Des Moines. It starts on Highway 5 in West Des Moines, travels through three counties, crosses I-35 and links with the Grand Prarie Parkway.

When it’s completed, the project will cover more than 11 miles with public art installations dedicated to veterans. Plans for future installations include gateway features, features dedicated to each of the service branches, prisoners of war and those missing in action, service medals, service ribbons, the American flag, and a sculpture feature at the west of the parkway.

Visit Other Veterans Monuments in Iowa 

While Folded Flags stands out at its post in West Des Moines, the Hawkeye State has many other unique museums and monuments that pay tribute to US veterans.

Welcome Home Soldier Monument | Albia

This eight-acre monument stands as a place to ensure that no US veteran feels disrespected or alone. It features a large granite wall — similar to Washington D.C.’s Vietnam War Memorial — with the names of thousands of veterans. It also features installations remembering several wars, 21 crosses representing a 21-gun salute, and a display of 100 US flags on a hill.

Iowa Gold Star Military Museum | Johnston

This museum aims to honor and tell the stories of Iowa military members who served in wars, in service of Iowa, or in homeland defense. Since WWI, a Gold Star represents a veteran who had given their life for their country, and the museum honors the service of all Iowa veterans with exhibits that tell their stories.

Hall of Heroes | Forest City

Housed inside a vintage WWII-era barracks, the Hall of Heroes preserves the stories and artifacts of Northern Iowans who served in all service branches. The displays here rotate over time, so visitors of all ages can see something new with each visit.

Camp Algona POW Museum | Algona

What was once the “home” of thousands of German war prisoners during WWII is now a museum dedicated to preserving the history of that camp, which existed from 1943 to 1946. Exhibits include a look at how WWII impacted Algoma, Americans in European prison camps, and life inside the Algoma camp.

Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum | Waterloo

The Sullivan Brothers Museum honors the military service of all Iowa veterans dating back to the Civil War. Visitors can enjoy nearly three dozen interactive exhibits, view traditional exhibits, and hear the stories of countless Iowa veterans.

Iowa State Capitol Grounds | Des Moines

Iowa’s state capitol is worth a visit on its own, but the grounds are also filled with numerous installations that honor veterans, including specific memorials for most major American conflicts. Some of these include:

• The VFW Monument is a 10-foot granite memorial with a red granite eternal flame burning atop it.
• The Submarine Memorial honors servicemembers lost while serving on submarines during WWII.
• The Korean War Memorial includes a 14-foot-tall obelisk and two tablets that tell the story of the Korean War through maps, pictures, and words.
• Memorial Plaza honors those who served in WWII and features a 50-foot steel flame. A Freedom Walk leads to the flame and allows visitors to take a journey through time, starting with Pearl Harbor. The floor of the plaza features a global map showing the major theaters of war.
• The Purple Heart Combat Veterans Memorial honors all service members who were wounded by instruments of war in combat.
• The Vietnam War Memorial bears a similar design to the Washington D.C. monument.
• The Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) Memorial Tree was planted to honor Civil War Veterans.

Make Plans to Visit Folded Flags in Iowa

A trip along Veterans Parkway in West Des Moines Iowa (especially at night) makes Folded Flags easy to spot. With its triangular setup set against a green rectangular field, it’s a memorable monument that honors the nation’s veterans and offers a place for reflection. 

Whether you visit Folded Flags or any of Iowa’s other war memorials or museums, they leave a profound impact on all who visit, serving as a way to honor service members, while also serving as a reminder of the human cost of war and the sacrifices so many thousands of veterans have made in service to their country.