Just off the map to the east is land recently acquired by Mt. Laurel Twp. for preservation.  Owned by WW II vet. Mr.  Stan Kowalesk, the land was purchased after Stan's death in 2002 and is now permanently preserved. 

 

Members of the Road to Monmouth Heritage Campaign met Stan on one of their many road trips, and became friendly with him.  He was astonished that the farm lane that crossed his 61 acre piece of heaven was the scene of Gen. Cornwallis' division's march towards Monmouth.  Images of Stan and his farm are added here to honor the memory of this man and of his only son, Gregory, who was KIA in Vietnam at the age of 21 in 1968.

 

Stan himself was a veteran.  He told the story of his promise to God to do something purposeful with his life when we first met him in 2001.  It is a pleasure to keep Stan's legacy alive:

 

It was 1944, just after the Normandy breakout.  Stan was in action against the Germans when he was severely wounded.  As he lay there dying, knowing that his life's blood was oozing out and that medical attention was not possible, Stan made a pact with God.  If the Almighty would save Stan, Stan would do something worthy with his life.  Just then, a German tank approached and roared up to the wounded GI.  The hatch opened, and a black-uniformed tanker leapt to the ground, pistol in hand.  Stan knew that he was about to be shot.  Rather than shooting a wounded American, the German captured him and was able to get Stan to immediate medical treatment.  Stan lived.  He became a resident of Mt. Laurel and worked hard much of his life to save his small farm from development. 

 

Stan's legacy is that his slice of heaven, and history, will remain forever.

 

Richard S. Walling