On Memorial Day about 40 people gathered at the memorial dedicated to 34 Bethlehem men killed in action and one man listed as missing in action during the Vietnam War.

A brilliant blue sky shone above the street- scape of East Church Street between City Hall and the Bethlehem Area Public Library where the small group gathered.

An honor guard rendered honors at appropriate moments during the ceremony. Sergeant-at-Arms Lenny Keefer tolled the organization’s memorial bell as Adjutant Roslyn Schroeder read the names of the 35 men whose names are engraved on the stone. Schroeder’s brother-in-law was one of the names she read out as the bell tolled.

The brass bell, a souvenir from the now decommissioned Staff NCO Club, Subic Bay Naval Base, R. P., rested on a scarlet, gold-trimmed vestment embroidered with the Star of Bethlehem symbol of the Bethlehem Detachment 284, Marine Corps League.

As the names were read, Beth Masiado, the designer of the granite memorial located on the small strip of landscaping in front of city hall, held a photograph of each man as the Adjutant read his name.

It is common on such monuments that the names bear no ranks nor indication of what branch of service in which the man served.

Siblings of several of the memorialized men attended the event, which is believed to have been the first such memorial service held there since the small monument was installed.

A prayer by the Rev. Suzzane M. Trump opened the ceremony. Rev. Trump is the Chaplain for the Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council, and the pastor for St. John’s Windish Evangelical Lutheran Church in South Bethlehem.

Sophia Tremblar performed a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem. Tremblar is a student at Freedom HS.

John Kachmar addressed the gathering, urging those attending to learn the history of the men on the memorial. He said he knew several of them from his childhood. Kachmar himself is a decorated combat veteran of the U. S. Marine Corps.

Former Marine Rob Hawke performed “Taps,” accompanied by a miliary medley.

The color guard was comprised of Terry Stocker, Leopoldo Fernandez, Glenn Rader and George E. Borman III.

Former Marines and Fleet Marine Force Navy Corpsmen are invited to join the Bethlehem Detachment #284, Marine Corps League as regular members. Non-Marine associate members are also invited to join. See the website, https://www.mclbethlehem.org/ for contact information.