Tall trees, radiant flowers, pleasant music – the scene at Bethlehem’s Rose Garden is one to take in and enjoy. As you stroll through the peaceful grounds, there are a variety of interesting memorials and monuments to observe.

One such monument stands to honor the young men and women of Bethlehem’s West Side who served in World War II. You can find it along Eighth Avenue facing Nitschmann MS.

The movement to erect this particular memorial was started by the West Side Republican Club and the work was carried out by the Bethlehem West Side Plaque Committee, chaired by Frank A. Bilheimer.

Throughout 1944, the committee was active in developing interest in the project. They financed the memorial through public donations in a house-to-house canvass of the area and gathered names of the West Side’s armed forces members to be inscribed on the Roll of Honor

The memorial listed over 1,400 names, but a considerable number of others had entered the service after the list was compiled. The names were listed on a large wooden panel with the intention of replacing it with a more lasting memorial of bronze after the war was over.

The memorial and plaque were unveiled and dedicated on Sunday, April 8, 1945, at 2:30 p.m.

Attendance at the ceremonies was great, with several hundred neighbors, friends, and relatives of those whose names were inscribed on the plaque coming out for the dedication. Servicemen on leave or furlough were urged to attend.

Despite bright April sunshine, the afternoon was marked with a solemn atmosphere.

The program began with the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” accompanied by the Municipal Band under direction of Joseph Ricapito. Father Madden, assistant rector at SS. Simon and Jude Church gave the invocation. Frank Bilheimer gave introductory marks, and then turned the program over to John H. Diefenderfer, master of ceremonies.

Mayor Robert Pfeifle commended the West Side residents for their fine work in erecting the plaque. Following the mayor, a flag-raising ceremony was presented by the Boy Scouts as the band played “To the Colors.”

Rev. C. Eugene Blum of Bethany Reformed Church offered a prayer, followed by a brief talk by Judge Harold Helfrich.

The principal speaker was Captain John R. Horsley, attached to the Pennsylvania State Guard. Captain Horsley graphically described the road taken by the West Side’s young service men and women, as well as the rest of America, in moving from peaceful non-intervention to becoming part of the world’s greatest battle machine.

“I am not concerned with the past,” declared Captain Horsley. “It is the present that is important and the future when the ideals for which these young men and women suffered and died will be realized.”

Symbolizing the grave nature of the occasion, a basket of flowers was placed before the memorial by sisters Vera. Pfeiffer and Cadet Nurse Betty I. Schaffer, in memory of their brother, Private First Class Donald R. Schaffer.

Pfc. Schaffer was the first West Side boy to pay the supreme sacrifice in World War II, dying on Nov. 10, 1942, during the North African invasion. Another brother had been reported as missing in action as of Dec. 10, 1944.

Pfeiffer stated that the flowers were not only for her brother, but for all the men and women in the service from the Westside. Taps was sounded and heads were bared during the touching tribute.

Following this, a group of veterans, servicemen and Boy Scouts removed the covering and the handsome memorial plaque was formally unveiled.

Made of field masonry, the semi-circular memorial featured the large wooden panel set in an artistic stone base with benches on either side and was capped with a cement eagle. Above the honor roll it read, “In Memory of the West Side Men and Women of World War II.”

The memorial was designed by Andrew M. Litzenberger, a well-known architect and superintendent of buildings and grounds at Lehigh University. City Councilman Ario Wear played a leading role in its construction.

Finally, Rabbi Morris Goldfarb pronounced the benediction, and the program closed with the playing of “America” by the Municipal Band.

By the early 1950s, the wooden panel listing the names had become dilapidated and weather-worn. Following criticism of the defaced plaque’s appearance, funds were raised by the West Bethlehem Memorial Plaque Committee for its replacement.

The cost of the new memorial, made of bronze, was underwritten by the West Side Republican Club. The plaque, which remains to this day, contained no names, but instead the suitable inscription, “In honor of the men and women of West Bethlehem who served in World War II.”

It was unveiled Sunday, May 24, 1953 by Carrie Cope, Bethlehem, second vice president of the National Mothers of World War II.

World War II mothers purchased two cement flower urns to flank the memorial, and flowers were provided by the City of Bethlehem. The Harry F.W. Johnson American Legion Post Band provided music during the program in which there were a number of speakers.

All these years later the memorial still stands to honor the sacrifices made and allow park goers the chance to reflect on the cost of freedom.