World War II Memorial Planning Committee Records

In 2007, representatives of the Rutgers College Class of 1942 proposed the creation of a memorial dedicated to those Rutgers men and women who lost their lives in World War II. The memorial was intended as a class gift on the occasion of their 65th reunion.

The World War II Memorial was designed and constructed by Let it Grow, Inc. and Arnold Associates Landscape Architecture and Urban Design in collaboration with members of the WWII memorial planning committee. Located near Scott Hall on the corner of College Avenue and Hamilton St., the memorial incorporated a sculpture by Bucky Schwartz entitled "Inside Out," which was already situated at that location. The memorial consists of four stone columns about seven feet high. These four columns are enclosed by two concentric circles. The first circle incorporates plaques bearing the 247 names of those Rutgers men and women who gave their lives in World War II. A central plaque identifies the memorial and defines its purpose, explains the provenance of the original sculpture, and identifies the Class of 1942 as the donor. The second circle consists of an arrangement of wrought-iron benches on the backs of which are plaques bearing a World War II geographic place name where Rutgers alumni fought and died.

The committee aimed to have the memorial completed in time for dedication during the class of '42's 65th reunion. However, due to delays in construction, only a virtual ribbon cutting was held during the reunion in May of 2007. The official dedication ceremony was held on May 16, 2008 with speeches by class president Lewis Bloom, former class president Thomas Kindre, Bill Bauer, and Rutgers University president Richard McCormick.