Near 6,000 U.S. flags flutter in slight breeze as part of a display on the west side of the University of Iowa Pentacrest. The flags—which form the letter "I"—recognize veterans as part of a UI celebration titled Veteran Vitality. The display will remain up through Monday evening.

The flag display is part of a series of events organized by the UI's Military and Veteran Student Services in the Center for Diversity and Enrichment, in partnership with the UI Veterans Association.

The 1-foot-high flags, which were placed in the lawn over the weekend, are arranged in the shape of the letter "I" for Iowa. Volunteers, including UI faculty, staff, and students, along with area high school students in the Upward Bound Program, helped create the flag display. Each flag include the name of a veteran, living or deceased, who is being honored by a member of the community.

Many of the more than 800 UI student, faculty, and staff veterans and service members are also wearing neon-colored, Hawaiian-themed shirts today as a way to let the campus and community know that they are veterans.

The day also included a kickoff celebration at 11 a.m., followed by a series of panel presentations in the Iowa Memorial Union, and culminating with a luau for UI veterans and invited guests. For more information, visit here.