Amity Township’s Korean and Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial, located at the Amity Township Municipal Building, 2004 Weavertown Road, has recently been “redecorated” by a local Boy Scout for his Eagle Scout Service Project.
Christopher Ehlinger, 209 Ashford Drive, a member of Boy Scout Troop 597, Amityville, installed on Nov. 1 and 2 a stepping-stone walkway, LED lights, and five dwarf English Boxwood trees at the memorial.
Ehlinger was assisted with his service project by 13 scouts and six adults, who braved the rain and cold weather conditions each day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to finish the landscaping in 123 hours.
The memorial is now surrounded by stone gravel, LED lights, the boxwoods, and is reached from the parking lot by the stone pathway.
A bench that was moved from the building’s entrance now provides visitors a place to sit while paying their respects.
The project began when Ehlinger contacted the township staff for project ideas.
“They said landscaping the site was discussed at a couple of meetings but was never started.”
“There aren’t a lot of people that know the memorial is there, so I thought with the LED lights, people would see the memorial [at night].”
Born on Veterans Day 17 years ago, and with more than 12 family members who have served in the Armed Forces, Ehlinger said the project was the perfect way to earn his Eagle rank and honor veterans.
“I was happy to do this project. The landscaping could bring more attention to the memorial, and it is a great way to pay my respects to the people who have served our country.”
“I come from a family of veterans,” Ehlinger said, citing one great-grandfather, both grandfathers, his father, at least two uncles, and numerous cousins who have served.
Chris is the son of Charles and Elizabeth Ehlinger.
Charles and his father served in the Air Force, and Elizabeth’s father served in the Army.
“I want to thank Don Levengood, of Levengood’s Flowers, Inc., 7652 Boyertown Pike, Douglassville, who provided his time, guidance, and landscaping paper, and how to make the path.”
“My sincere thank you to all the scouts and adults that came out, Levengood’s Flowers, the township (who bought the five dwarf English Boxwoods), and especially township Manager Charles E. Lyon for all of his help with the project details. Thank you to township Roadmaster Alistair Howell-Clarke, who delivered the stepping stones, the edging, as well as two tons of stone gravel.”
“I think the project turned out to look very nice,” Ehlinger said. “The two days we picked weren’t exactly the best weather days, but the guys that came out to help worked really hard.”