A recent Sunday afternoon here in Swedesboro held a particularly special meaning.  On September 16, 2012, local Girl Scouts Marissa Willox and Cheridan Arthur were joined by Swedesboro Council members Sam Casella and Joanna Gahrs in dedicating a beautiful memorial to one of Swedesboro’s late residents, Elijah Young.

As part of the Silver Award service program for the Girl Scouts, the girls created memorial benches to honor two local children who were lost far too early in life.  Elijah, age 9, was a Swedesboro-Woolwich student who passed away in April 2008 due to injuries he sustained when he was struck by a vehicle while crossing Kings Highway.  Devon Miller, age 13, was a Logan Township resident who passed away in January of 2008 after being critically injured by a vehicle on Center Square Road.

Marissa and Cheridan raised the necessary funds to create these memorials, and helped to construct each of the two beautiful benches that now sit in Swedesboro and Logan.  Each of the benches is decorated with the name of the child it memorializes.  The girls hope that these benches will serve to honor the legacies of Elijah and Devon, as well as their families, and to help to remind local children to be extra careful while crossing the street.