Current Gloucester Township resident, and Voorhees native, Christian Stark was honored along with 15 other veterans last week on the Voorhees Veterans Wall of Honor
Current Gloucester Township resident Christian Stark joined the United States Air Force at 19 years old and served for four years, being stationed at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, before going to Vietnam for a year in 1965.
“Back then, you either got married or joined the service, and I decided to join the service,” said Stark.
While he was in Vietnam, he worked radio intelligence and helped intercept radio signals from the North Vietnamese. He wasn’t the first member of his family to serve, as his father served in World War II.
Looking back, he is proud of his decision to enlist, even though, when he returned home, a return from the military warranted a much different response then than it does now.
“I’m proud to have served my country,” said Stark. “You were disliked coming back back then, it’s not like it is today being praised and thanked.”
Originally from Voorhees, Stark was place on the Voorhees Veterans Wall of Honor last week. The wall is in its fifth year, with 234 veterans being placed on it in its inaugural year in October 2014, and now approaches 400 names after its ceremony last week when Stark and 15 additional veterans were inducted.
Voorhees Mayor Michael Mignogna, in a speech before the veterans and their families entered the area where the plaques were hung, stated the importance of such a ceremony couldn’t be overstated.
“These plaques have provided people to share stories that they otherwise may not have shared,” said Mignogna.
According to Jeanette Schelberg, the creator of the veterans wall, the purpose is to honor all who have served. While stories that often get the highest praise or most publicity in pop culture are the ones of people who perform heroic deeds or rise to higher ranks, she feels it is just as important to remember and honor those who serve behind the scenes as well.
Those honored are placed on the wall in random fashion to honor all equally, with no priority for rank or for branch of service. The only special arrangements that are made are to place family members together on the wall if they are inducted in the same year only.
Each plaque is placed with the veteran’s picture, their branch of service, and a brief description or story from their service. This helps make it more special compared to most other veteran memorials, according to Schelberg.
“I think this is really important because it’s really unique,” said Schelberg. “Most of the time when you look at war memorials or war monuments, the most you might see is a name. If you don’t know that person, there’s nothing to put with that name.”
Anyone interested in finding out how they can be placed on the wall or nominating a friend or family member can contact Schelberg at (609) 868–6338 or email jschelberg@voorheesnj.com.
