King James Bible (Judges 2:6-10) – Memorial Grove – Cherry Hill, NJ
N 39° 55.599 W 075° 03.504
18S E 495009 N 4419617
Located in Cooper River Park in Pennsauken NJ, this monument bears the names of eight Camden County residents who were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor and has a curious biblical verse inscribed on the bronze marker.
Waymark Code: WMGNA7
Location: New Jersey, United States
Date Posted: 03/23/2013
Views: 4
This attributable quote is located a few dozen feet from the banks of the Cooper River, on the Cherry Hill/Pennsauken border lies this very unique and very beautiful memorial to eight men who earned the Congressional Medal of Honor in various wars. The wars noted in each of then men's biography on the memorial web page are: The Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korean War. Also mentioned, but not in a war, was an explosion aboard a naval vessel and a military offensive against American Indians.
The quote is at the top of the memorial in an oval bronze piece. It reads this stone shall be a witness unto us. The quote is curious because several other versions of the bible have the quote as this stone shall be a witness against us. I cannot figure out what this means if anything.
There is one man not mentioned who did receive the nation's highest honor: Audubon resident Samuel Sampler was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during World War I.
The other men mentioned are:
WILLIAM J. SEWELL
JOHN SHEERIN
CHARLES PETTIT HEATH HEYL
GEORGE ROBERT CHOLISTER
FRANCIS X. McGRAW
CARLTON ROBERT ROUH
EDWARD C. BENFOLD
NELSON V. BRITTIN
There is also a sundial, raised on a square brick pillar in front of the memorial. Engrave in script on the face of the dial is the name of all our military units (air force, marines, etc.). On the brick pillar is a gold plaque which lists the names of the individual responsible for the development of this memorial. The front of the memorial is bordered by four benches, two at a right angle on the left and two at the right (see picture). There are two flags in the rear. There is a concrete pathway which leads to the memorial and is about forty feet long (5 X 5 blocks). The actual memorial is just too ornate to describe. It is a metallic flowing piece of silver and gold, attached to a brick wall background. At it s highest point on the wall, the memorial is about 10 feet off the ground.
In the very immediate area are many more memorials. They are mostly war related. There are many benches to sit, there is a gazebo to relax and watch the river. All around, this is a really nice reflection park sponsored and maintained by Camden County Parks Department.