By ROBERT LINNEHAN
Behind each name on the pathway leading up the Evesham Veterans Memorial lies a story. Each name, each message, each symbol on the bricks holds its own story for the brave men and women who have served their nation and kept their families safe over the years.
Some of the names on the bricks are still with us today, honored for their current and continued service in the armed forces. Unfortunately, some of the names are no longer with us, their memories and service forever honored by their families.
Evesham Township will honor the men and women forever enshrined around the memorial at a special Memorial Day celebration to be held on Friday, May 27 at 10 a.m. at the municipal complex on 984 Tuckerton Road, Marlton.
Eleven new bricks honoring Burlington County residents will be installed into the pathway this ceremony. Jim Hayes Sr., an Evesham resident, said he and his wife Gayle felt it was a good time to honor the sacrifices their son Jim Hayes Jr. made with the 82nd Airborne.
Jim, 24, was wounded during his service in Afghanistan when an improvised explosive device was detonated near his unit. He took several pieces of shrapnel into his leg, Hayes said, and received a Purple Heart for his actions.
“When Jim came home, I didn’t want to get anything like that for him, being fresh out of the Army. I let it go a year, but we knew we wanted to honor him,” Hayes Sr. said. “I’m his biggest fan, I always will be. I have a purple heart tattooed on my arm that says ‘My son, my hero.’”
The brick will be engraved with his name, the 82nd Airborne, and a heart symbol, Hayes Sr. said. Hayes Jr. is currently living in Marlton and going to school for criminal justice.
The brick purchased by Janet and Charles Bakley is in memory of a loving man who served his country during one of the largest military conflicts the nation has ever seen. Janet said she and her father, Charles, purchased a brick for Edward Bakley, her uncle and her father’s brother.
Edward, a member of the Army, served in World War II from 1943 to 1945, Janet said. Janet and her father purchased the brick for Edward’s 90th birthday this past October to honor his service. Unfortunately, Edward passed away on Feb. 15 this year. They were able to give him a card before his passing that said what would be engraved on his brick in the memorial.
“My uncle was there at the beginning of the war. He was in some of the worst fighting, and we thought he should be honored,” Janet said.
Throughout his service, Edward carried a picture of Janet with him wherever he went, Charles said. The brick will be engraved, “Edward Bakley. Army. 1943–1945.”
The Czamlets, Diane and Henry, will be attending the May 27 ceremony to remember their son Brian. He served for nine years in the Navy, Henry said, and was an active member on the U.S.S. Frank Cable and U.S.S. Taylor during Operation Desert Storm.
For his actions in Operation Desert Storm, Henry said that Brian received a Kuwait Liberation Medal.
Unfortunately Brian died 4 years ago after suffering a massive heart attack, Henry said. He was 37 when he passed away, Henry said, and had been operating his own trucking company in Charleston, S.C.
“We decided to do this because he was a veteran. He’s entitled to it, as far as the honor of being placed on the memorial,” Henry said. “I thought he should have that privilege, he did serve his country for many years.”
Eight more families will have their bricks installed into the memorial this year. When you’re passing the structure, take some time to think about the names of the men and women on the bricks leading up to the memorial and the sacrifices they’ve made for this country.
The community will flock to the memorial to see the bricks be placed into the memorial on Friday, May 27. The celebration will begin at 10 a.m. at the municipal complex.
