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Ongoing Committee Activities and Event Planning
The Northwestern Lehigh Veterans Memorial Committee continues to meet monthly as we organize our annual Veterans Day and Memorial Day events at Ontelaunee Park. Last May we honored the Gold Star Family of LCPL Brandon Van Parys, USMC who spoke at our Memorial Day program. Brandon, a graduate of Northwestern Lehigh High School, was Killed in Iraq during the War on Terrorism shortly after his 20th birthday.
This year, in honor of America’s 250th birthday, we are pleased to announce a special Memorial Day celebration. Following our traditional program in the pavilion, the famous Pioneer Band of Allentown will perform a special patriotic concert in the park’s band shell, making this year’s event particularly memorable.
Fundraising Efforts for Memorial Enhancements
The committee is actively working on fundraising initiatives to support the addition of a stone wall, capped with granite, that will replace the current metal fence surrounding the memorial. This improvement will provide additional space for engraving veterans’ names in the future. This spring, nine more names will be added to the memorial. Our recent fundraising mailer, seeking donations for this project, raised approximately $19,000, a testament to the generosity and support of our Northwestern Lehigh community.
Challenges and Community Support
Last November, our Veterans Day program faced extremely cold temperatures and high winds, resulting in lower turnout and an empty cash box at the end of a long, cold day. Despite these challenges, we remain committed to exploring new fundraising ideas and continuing to host programs that recognize and celebrate the contributions of our veterans. We warmly invite everyone to participate. Your ongoing support and involvement are essential as we unite to honor those who have given so much to our community and nation.
Coming Soon to Our Village Centers
Planning is underway to have “Hometown Hero” banners installed on utility poles throughout our Northwestern Lehigh community. Banners will honor individual veterans with a picture in uniform and military service information. Banners may be purchased for $250 each and will be installed by township personnel. After application, payment, and installation logistics are completed, announcements will be made on our website and in the NWPress with instructions about how you can participate in recognizing your veteran with a banner.
Legacy and Community Recognition
Our memorial stands as a lasting tribute to the sacrifice, courage, and unwavering commitment of our veterans in safeguarding our freedoms. Its beautiful design and setting have been acknowledged by neighboring communities as well. Recently, members of our committee were invited to a kick-off meeting with the Nazareth Memorial Library to offer guidance as they embark on their own Veterans Memorial project. On the local level committee members enjoyed an evening with a Cub Scout Pack meeting at Ebenezer Church to teach them how to properly fold the American flag and explain the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Thank you for helping us ensure that the legacy of our veterans is remembered for generations to come.
New design to provide space for additional names into the future.
Friends, Neighbors, Patriots and Veterans,
The Northwestern Lehigh Veterans Memorial Committee is launching a project to expand the space available in the memorial for engraving veterans’ names and tributes far into the future. The original design was based on the 2484 names that were researched and submitted including space for 333 names to be added in the future. After our three-year effort to search for veterans who lived in our area, we received requests to add 100 more names following the Memorial Dedication in 2023, with another 19 requests in 2024, and 12 in 2025. Each year we continue to engrave veteran’s names as our children and grandchildren answer their call to serve and to include veterans who move into the four townships in our school district. This unanticipated number of names submitted since the design was completed has nearly filled the Cold War and Vietnam War periods limiting our ability to add new veterans who served in those wars. As a result, the memorial committee has unveiled a new design that will allow names to be added as veterans or their families ask to be included in the memorial. The new proposal replaces the existing metal fence around the memorial perimeter with a beautiful stone wall capped with 32 granite stones. Each cap is sized to have three columns of names, as they appear on the existing panels, providing space for an additional 900 names with quotations or other historical tributes to military service.
We hope to complete this project one year after the 250th Birthday of America’s Independence for the Memorial Day ceremony in 2027. Our cost estimate for this project is $160,000, which is about $175/name to provide the additional space. Current engraving cost has been $100 for each name. The committee is planning fundraising events and donation requests relying on the generous financial support from our local residents and businesses.
Please see the reverse side for ways to make a donation to kick off this project that will continue to honor of our local veterans who unselfishly served to keep America free.Thank you for your continued support The Northwestern Lehigh Veterans Memorial Committee
How to Donate
Donate by CHECK to: NW Lehigh Veterans Memorial Mail to: Lynn Township Office c/o NW Lehigh Vets Memorial 7911 Kings Highway New Tripoli, PA 18066
Donate by CREDIT CARD on the DONATIONS Tab on our website.
Donate by CELL PHONE
2024 Memorial Day Program
2023 Memorial Day Program
2022 Memorial Day Dedication Program
Commemorative Coins are still available for purchase to offset Memorial expenses
Contact Justine Bachman 610-760-1175
Either coin can be purchased for $20 each
The original Commemorative coin
Copper coin (.999 purity) commemorating the May 30, 2022 Dedication
Your contributions will help our efforts to provide such a worthy memorial to our Veterans. Please make a donation.
Seipstown Grange #1657 Presents a $1,000 Donation to the Northwestern Lehigh Veterans Memorial Committee on Veterans Day 2023
At a ceremony, held on Veterans Day 2023 and in front of the Northwestern Lehigh Veterans Memorial at Ontelaunee Park, members of Seipstown Grange #1657 presented the Northwestern Lehigh Veterans[…]
Read moreName the Eagle Contest
A very successful “Name the Eagle” contest was just completed to choose a name for the Eagle mounted at the entrance to the memorial. Third, fourth and fifth graders at Weisenberg and Northwestern elementary schools submitted eight-one names for the eagle. They were asked to research ideas, with their parents and teachers, for names that have a connection with military, history and patriotism.
The winning name, chosen by the Memorial Committee members is “FREEDOM” submitted by Harper Slaski (5th grade Northwestern) and Mrs. O’Niel’s 3rd grade class (Weisenberg). Please see the attached document for second and third place winners and their names. This turned out to be a very successful and well received event that connected our elementary students, teachers and parents to this community project. The energy and excitement from the students was a joy to see.