The CHSAA honored Pat Rosenkranz ‘49 by having eight copies of her book, “Honored Dead”, bound in hardcover and distributed to close family members and friends.
The following Preface was added to the newly covered books:
Her book, HONORED DEAD, tells the stories of the “Cleveland boys” who died while serving in the armed forces of our country during World War II. These men are honored and memorialized at the Cleveland High School Memorial Forest, which is located in east King County near Fall City, Washington.
During the war, the students of Cleveland High School (CHS) sought a way to honor classmates and alumni who were killed in the war. The graduating
classes of 1943 and 1944 raised money by holding car washes, fundraisers like the senior play, bake sales, donating pocket change, and other odd jobs, to come up with $300.
Science teacher, Joseph Hazzard, suggested that they purchase a tract of land and make it into a memorial forest. With that thought in mind, Vice Principal Ray
Imus took the money to a county tax auction of logged-off land. He bid on 131.52 acres. When word got around of what the CHS students and staff were trying to accomplish, no one bid against him. The property was purchased in the name of Principal Kenneth Selby.
But the story of the memorial forest doesn’t end there–– it was just the beginning. Weyerhaeuser donated 10,000 seedlings of Sitka Spruce, Douglas Fir, and Western Red Cedar, and the students planted them and nursed them until they were fully established. They dug a well, installed restrooms and a sewage drainage system, built utility sheds and a lyceum measuring approximately 50×25 feet.
It was Faith Beatty who worked with CHS students to research each of our Fallen Heroes to document how they lived and how and where they died. Using their work as a starting point, Pat worked for 2 years researching and writing the book, including tracing the maps by hand and spending untold hours to have the book as accurate as possible. Her major concern was finding a publisher who would help design and title the book’s cover to add meaning and compassion to the
history documented in the book.
To honor Pat’s work in writing Honored Dead, a motion was presented to the board of the CHS Alumni Association (CHSAA) to purchase hardcovers for eight of her books and give them to close family members and friends, the CHS Library, and the Seattle Public Library. CHSAA president, Bernie Moskowitz, led the
board in unanimously approving this motion.
It is our hope that these hardcovered books will serve as family heirlooms to help remember Pat’s accomplishments related to our Fallen Heroes, the CHSAA, and the CHS Memorial Forest.
