County to Honor Four World War II Vets During Saturday's Memorial Day Services

The county will honor four World War II veterans during its annual Memorial Day Services this year, the Camden County Freeholder Board announced on Wednesday.

Camden County's annual Memorial Day Services take place Saturday, May 24, 10 a.m. at the Camden County Veterans Cemetery in Camden.

“This is a time for us to come together to honor the men and women of our armed forces for their service, and to remember the sacrifices they made for our great country,” Freeholder Deputy Director Ed McDonnell, liaison to the Camden County Office of Veterans Affairs, said. “During this year’s program, we will honor four World War II Veterans that participated in the first of a series of documentaries for the Camden County Veterans History Project. The Freeholder Board created the project to capture the trials, tribulations and triumphs of our local Veterans as a lasting memory to their commitment to our country and freedom.”

The Camden County Special Recognition Award will be presented to the following World War II veterans:

* USMC Veteran John Welsh of Somerdale;

* USMC Veteran John Lauriello of Haddon Township;

* Navy Veteran Edward Hill of Pennsauken Township; and

* U.S. Marine Corps Aviation Veteran Linwood Allen of Berlin.

“These brave veterans agreed to share their personal knowledge of the hardships and horrors of battle so that future generations may learn from their first-hand account of World War II," McDonnell said. "The documentary recounts their stories of service on the land, sea and air, from the kamikaze-scarred Intrepid to remote airbases in Papua, New Guinea, and from the enemy-infested jungles of Guam to the bloody beach at Iwo Jima,” McDonnell said.  “We thank them for their service to our nation, and for allowing us to document their contributions and sacrifices.”

The Freeholder Board created the Camden County Veterans Cemetery in 2007 in response to a request from local veterans who asked for a dedicated burial place close to home.

The Board made it a priority to develop a final resting place for our heroes who have served this country through a selfless commitment to our nation.

“We chose Harleigh as the location for this hallowed ground for its beauty and its historic significance," McDonnell said. "The eight-acre park-like setting is situated on a bluff overlooking the scenic Cooper River, on the border of Camden and Collingswood. We have invested our resources into making this plot of land significant for eternity.”

Established in 1885, Harleigh Cemetery is currently the final resting place of hundreds of veterans, including more than 300 who served in the Civil War.

It is also the resting place of poet Walt Whitman, four United States Senators, and generations of Camden County families.