Winning writers will read their submissions at the Evesham Township Memorial Day Ceremony on May 25.
As with many towns across the nation, each year Evesham Township holds a Memorial Day Ceremony to honor those brave men and women who gave their lives serving in the military.
However, this year’s ceremony has a new twist with the Evesham Township Memorial Day Essay Contest, in which the township is asking students in grades five through eight to fulfill the writing prompt of “What does Memorial Day mean to you?”
The township invites students to submit up to 300 words on the meaning of Memorial Day in any writing format, whether it be essay, poem, etc.
“We decided to differentiate our Memorial Day Ceremony a bit by involving some kids, and with that we created a contest for the future generations to see what Memorial Day means to them,” said Evesham Township Management Analyst Allison Bittner. “It’s just anything short and sweet to convey the meaning Memorial Day to them.”
Once the township has collected all submissions, officials will select several winners, whom the township will invite to read their submission at the township’s annual Memorial Day Ceremony on May 25 at 10 a.m.
“It’s just to get the youth community more involved in our Memorial Day Ceremony,” Bittner said. “I think Memorial Day is one of those that can be more meaningful as you get older, but sometimes it’s good to get the youth involved.”
For those students interested in entering the contest, submissions are due by May 18.
Students can enter their submission in person at the Gibson House Community Center at 535 E. Main St., Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Students can also mail their submissions to the Evesham Township Department of Public Affairs at 984 Tuckerton Road, Marlton 08053.
For more information about the Memorial Day contest, contact Bittner at (856) 985–9792.
In addition to the new writing contest this year, the township is also continuing to promote the township’s Veterans Commemorative Walkway where the township holds its Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies in front of the Evesham Township Municipal Complex.
The walkway allows residents who are veterans, or residents who are a friend or family member related to a veteran, to make a donation to the township to receive a commemorative brick the township will inscribe with the veteran’s name to be permanently placed with the walkway.
According to the township’s website, the walkway is described as “not only a beautiful addition to the grounds of the municipal complex” but also “a unique way for people to honor a military veteran that has touched their lives.”
For a donor to be eligible to purchase a brick for the walkway, the donor must be a resident of Evesham Township or the eligible veteran must be or have been a resident of Evesham Township.
The township defines eligible veterans as those whose last active services ended under any circumstance other than dishonorable or undesirable conditions.
Eligible veterans include members of the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force or Coast Guard. Eligible veterans can also include members of a reserve component of the armed forces, such as the Army National Guard, Air National Guard or Reserve Officers Training Corp of the Army, Air Force or Coast Guard.
The donation required for each brick is $50. To order a brick, visit the township’s website at http://www.evesham-nj.org for an application.
For more information about the walkway, contact the Department of Public Affairs at (856) 985–9792.
