Museum to link history, future / app-2005-08-14
Asbury Park Press 2005-08-14 by By JANE ZHANG COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU
MUSEUM TO LINK HISTORY, FUTURE
A crowd of war veterans, re-enactors, museum supporters and history lovers gathered Saturday during a dedication of the World War II Living Memorial at Camp Evans. (STAFF PHOTO: MARCIN SZCZEPANSKI)
Dedication highlights Camp Evans' role
WALL — For more than two decades, except for four years with the Air Force in north Africa during World War II, Peter Kennedy of Sea Girt tested radar and satellite systems at Camp Evans.
For 40 years, Harold Fulton of Wall, a paratrooper during World War II, worked at the camp's shops, helping make everything the engineers ordered.
As the U.S. Army's radar development center during World War II, the camp produced a radar unit that detected Japanese planes attacking Pearl Harbor, according to Fred Carl of Wall, a computer programmer and former science teacher.
"Sixty years ago, you were willing to sacrifice every single tomorrow," said Carl, addressing almost 150 veterans and visitors Saturday at the dedication of the World War II Living Memorial at Camp Evans. "We. are grateful. We are humbled."
The camp, which also served as headquarters of the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Co. of America and was closed in 1993 by the U.S. Army to cut costs, is being transformed into the Infoage Science-History Center that is led by Carl.
Linking the site's history to its future, Carl said, the museum will teach visitors about sacrifices by older generations and has technology and science exhibits like the evolution of computers.
Saturday's dedication drew veterans such as Kennedy and Fulton, their families and the general public.
"It reminds everybody of the involvement of Camp Evans here," said David Goodwin, 81, a World War II veteran of Middletown. "Their involvement in the world war effort probably got me home a lot sooner."
Assemblyman Steve Corodemus, R-Monmouth, praised Carl as "the sole force behind the Infoage" who has worked hard to make a vision come true.
In the dozen years since the Army closed Camp Evans, Carl has worked to build the science and learning museum. He said he first convinced Wall Township to let him study the site, and then worked with the township and volunteers to get the Department of Defense agree to transfer 17 acres of land for free to the township, with 20 more acres to follow. About 30 volunteers have worked together to repair the buildings at the site.
At the dedication yesterday, many visitors lingered through the hallways of the memorial building and looked at the posters, guns and computer equipment.
"(It) certainly brought back memories," said Cicely Fulton, Harold's wife. "I'm so glad that we have it here."
The Fultons attended the ceremony with their niece, Gale Adams, and her son, Kevin, 15. The Wall Township High School student said he had heard about Camp Evans at school and from Carl, his German teacher.
"I think it's a good dedication," Kevin said. "And I'm glad that we are finally going into the building."
Jane Zhang: (732) 643-4029 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Assemblyman Steve Corodemus, R-Monmouth, Jokes that he feels like Gen. John J. Pershing as he gets off a military vehicle that gave him a ride to the podium during a dedication at Camp Evans.
(STAFF PHOTO MARCIN SZCZEPANSKI)
