Nearly 300 graduates and their guests gathered on the weekend of Sept. 15 to mark 50 years since their class graduated from Liberty and Freedom high schools in 1968. Their senior class had been divided with the opening of Freedom HS for the 1967-68 school year, with over 500 remaining at Liberty and the rest transferred to the then brand new high school campus in Bethlehem Township.

An informal gathering on Friday night at the Bethlehem Brew Works gave those who were unable to attend the Saturday event a chance to mingle with classmates they hadn’t seen in some time, and catch up on all of life’s events over food and drink.

Saturday’s casual affair at the Meadows Banquet Hall in Hellertown drew graduates and their guests, many from out of state, who enjoyed afternoon hors d’oeuvres, an evening buffet, a 50/50 raffle, dancing to the music provided by DJ Jimbo, and hours of reminiscing about old times and remembering the 131 friends and classmates who had passed away in the intervening 50 years.

Photographs, messages from those who could not attend, and a memorial listing deceased classmates added to the reunion. A DVD produced by class member Sharon Beam Rohal that commemorated school years from elementary through high school, past reunions, and memorialized classmates, was available for purchase.

The class intends to create a scholarship at both Liberty and Freedom with proceeds earned at the event.

A committee headed by Sue Gangewere Madzarac and Mark Sigmon spent the last two years organizing for the event. Committee members included Patty Snyder Coxe, Judy Knauss Roman, Barbara Beatty Stephens, Carol Haas Jacoby, Rita Gufrovich, Sue Miller, Sharon Beam Rohal, Kathy Fliszar Molnar, Stella Argeros Marino, Dave Jacoby, David Hall, Bruce Miller and Dana Grubb.