A PUZZLE AT THE END OF THE MEMORIAL DAY PARADE

The route for the Bethlehem Memorial Day Parade traditionally begins at the American Legion then heads over to Kenwood Avenue and onto Delaware Avenue. It concludes at the small, triangular park just south of the old railroad crossing. Most of us know that this park is the Bethlehem Veterans Memorial Park, but many don't know that there is a puzzle in the park.

• What was the promontory that Teddy Roosevelt and the rough riders charged up?
• In what conflict did the Blackhawk go down?
• What famous "hotel" did John McCain stay in?
• Who said he'd be back before Arnold Schwarzenegger did?
• What was the battle cry in San Antonio where no Americans survived?

The answers to all these questions and many more can be found at the Veterans Park inscribed on bricks that are specially arranged around the flagpole. As a part of the recent renewal of the landscaping and the Buy-a-Brick Campaign for the park, the inscribed bricks were added to the park to broaden the honor and recognition of those who served our country. Some bricks have been inscribed with the military engagements in which our veterans have fought. Others have been inscribed with quotes related to those engagements. The quotes reveal the passion and ideology of the time and are echoes of our history.

As one examines the bricks around the flagpole, you begin to discover the patterns in which the bricks were placed. For example, on the north side of the pole, one can see a brick (number 58) that corresponds to Patrick Henry's famous Revolutionary War quote, "Give me liberty or give me death." Next to this brick (number 50) is "The War of Independence" followed by (number 42) Paul Revere's signal to ride. These three bricks are a part of an L-shaped pattern of 11 bricks inscribed for the Revolutionary War. Other conflicts are arranged in a similar, crossword style.

To encourage community involvement, each military engagement includes at least one brick that is not inscribed. Suggestions for the blank bricks are encouraged and may be submitted through the Veterans Park web site, www.bethlehemfirst.com/veteranspark/. The website also includes a list of hints that allows one to discover all of the arrangement patterns.

So, next time you run into Stewart's for ice cream or visit other businesses near the old railroad crossing, take a walk around the newly restored and enhanced Bethlehem Veterans Memorial Park. Go to the flagpole and see if you can discover some of the arrangement patterns.

[Article originally published in the 2005 "Summer Edition" of Our Towne]

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