Design provided by the John Watson Company of Palmyra and was purchased in 1931 for $1,050.  This impressive memorial stone is made of what was considered the finest granite in America, is comprised of three pieces and at its completed height stands at about 9’4”.  The inscription on the face of the monument, under the carved relief of an American Eagle standing on the world, reads:

“THAT THE MEMORY OF THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES AND SERVICES IN DEFENSE OF THEIR COUNTRY, AND TO PERPETUATE ITS IDEALS, SHALL LIVE AS AN INSPIRATION TO COURAGE AND PATRIOTISM – ERECTED BY THE PUBLIC SPIRITED CITIZENS OF THE TOWN OF ROSE, N.Y.”  

The reverse face under a wreath carved in relief is inscribed “TO THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES AND SERVICES IN THE WARS OF 1776 – 1812 – 1846 – 1861 – 1898 – 1917 (the years 1941 – 1950 – 1964 were added later).

Plans to erect our Veterans War Memorial Monument first began in February 1931. The response from the Rose community as well as from former residents still interested in the Town of Rose was heartily in favor of erecting a Veterans Memorial. Members of the Miner-Youngs American Legion Post No. 582, other interested citizens, and the Town Board met in the Legion Meeting Rooms to discuss and begin the planning process. A committee was decided upon consisting of: Chairman Orwin A. Skutt, Town of Rose Supervisor; Lloyd Gowers, Commander of the American Legion Miner-Youngs Post; John Harper, Post Adjutant (sadly he was never able to see this through as he died about 3 weeks prior to the dedication); and Seth C. Oaks, Post Vice Commander. A list naming all veterans from the Rose area was then compiled. In an effort to ensure that none were overlooked, the committee then went a step further and put the list to the public requesting that “all interested relatives and friends carefully scan the list to see that their ancestors who may have been in any of the wars have their names on this list and are listed correctly,” having the public write to John Harper or Seth C. Oaks with any corrections or additions. This list and the notice to the public were made available at the North Rose Post Office as well as at the Rose Post Office. To get even wider publicity, attention, and inclusion the list and public request was also sent to be printed in the Lyons Republican newspaper.

A group of solicitors was chosen by the Committee to solicit donations to pay for the monument. This group of included Charles Jewell, Ross Ellinwood, Fred Stubley, Harry Cahoon, Ray Bradburn, Frank Thompson, Martin Miner, Clinton Dillingham, Henry Gage, William Baker, William Fish, Ray Wright, Grant Kitchen, Clarence Carney, Horace Putnam, Harry Bastian, Marvin Jeffers, L. S. Town, George Valentine, William Rolfe, Leon Knapp, and Earl Barnes. These solicitors successfully received donations from over 250 individuals and area businesses. Fraternal organizations of the town and the American Legion Auxiliary also put on special entertainments to raise funds for this worthy cause. Even the school children of the town were not to be left out and wanted to be involved in the financial support of our memorial; they contributed a liberty bond bought with their pennies during World War I.

The dedication ceremony for the Rose Veteran’s Memorial Monument took place on Saturday, May 30, 1931 under blue sky and a gentle breeze, making it a perfect day for the ceremony. The program began at 2:30 with a parade led by the American Legion Bert G. Collins Post Bugle and Drum Corps of Lyons (looking very impressive in their recently purchased West Point Cadet Uniforms), followed by Spanish American and World War I veterans, and Boy and Girl Scout Troops. The parade route ended at the triangle where the War Memorial and a platform stood for the ceremony. Seated on the platform were: on the extreme right – George Seager, sole remaining veteran of the Civil War in the town of Rose; seated in the center – Speaker Rev. Shaw, Rev. Proseus, Rev. Jacques, Rev. Jessup, Gordon Roney, Arlene Gowers, Mrs. Exner and a few others; on the extreme left were Lloyd Gowers, Commander of the Miner-Youngs American Legion Post of Rose, members of the town board consisting of Supervisor Orin A. Skutt, Town Clerk Ray A. Osgood, Justice Wells J. Putnam, and Justice Marvin W. Winchell. One newspaper report puts the crowd estimate at about 1,000 people, there were only about 300 seats provided leaving all others to remain standing or in their cars during the program. Crowd control was handled by Rose Boy Scouts on horseback and assisted by Chief of Police Brown of Lyons. Seth C. Oaks, Vice Commander of the Miner-Youngs American Legion Post of Rose was the Master of Ceremonies. The ceremony program proceeded as follows: Opening Song “Star Spangled Banner,” Opening Prayer by Rev. D. M. Proseus, Commander’s Greetings, Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address read by Gordon Roney, Solo “There is no Death” by O’Hara sung by Mrs. William Exner of Clyde with Mrs. G. F. Valentine at piano, “In Flanders Fields” read by Arlene Gowers, Unveiling of the Memorial by Comrade George Seager, placing of the wreath by Mrs. Helen Wells for the Auxiliary, the commander’s dedication speech titled “Lives Are Glorious” the commander dedicated the memorial monument “…to the memory of those who fell in the service of their country by land and by sea”, Dedication Prayer by Rev. Jacques, and Dedication Address by Rev. H. M. Shaw. The speaker expressed the purpose for which the memorial was erected as stated on the face of the memorial and stated the number of men who had served in the wars from the township of Rose as follows: Revolutionary War – 8; War of 1812 – 14; Mexican War – 3; Civil War – 195; Spanish American War – 3; World War I – 49. He also stressed the “necessity of home training of children for the religious, moral and patriotic leadership of the generation to come that America may continue to be a Christian Nation as the founders originally intended it to be.” Benediction was pronounced by Rev. E. O. Jessup. After the program and dedication a photo was taken of George Seager, sitting at the new memorial.