Severna Park Heroes And Goldstar Families To Be Honored

Posted

Local businessmen, neighbors, friends and politicians are working together to install a new gazebo on the B&A Trail that will be dedicated to Goldstar families and will include memorials to Severna Park heroes Eric Kavanagh, Taylor Wild, Eric Herzberg and Nathaniel McDavitt.

The effort began with a discussion among friends. Severna Park resident Tom Lindsay had the idea for a memorial, and he shared his thoughts with friends and family. Lindsay reached out to Kevin Kavanagh and William Wild, both of whom lost sons in Middle Eastern conflicts — Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. They and their families were grateful for the proposed project and enthusiastically supported the idea. Other businessmen, American Legion members and local political leaders joined in the effort.

After choosing the location and gaining the approval from the Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks, the group is planning to build the new gazebo along the B&A Trail near Hatton Regester Green. The current gazebo will be torn down, and a new, weather-resistant, maintenance-free, wheelchair-accessible gazebo will be installed. The group will place plaques for each fallen hero around the gazebo.

Kavanagh said it’s a great location. “It’s right across from Woods Memorial Church on the bike trail and a lot of kids use it,” he explained. “It will be an escape from the sun and rain, and as people take shelter, they’ll see the plaques of all these Severna Park kids.”

In addition to honoring his son, Kavanagh hopes the memorial will open the eyes of local citizens, reminding them that there are many people, including Severna Park residents, serving their country away from their families, and many who have paid the ultimate price.

“The hope is that it will make people aware of the local soldiers who have sacrificed for their country,” Kavanagh said.

The boys grew up in Severna Park and knew one another. Kavanagh’s son knew Herzberg. They were the same age and died within a month of each other. William Wild’s son and McDavitt were also close in age and knew each other. They were local kids who enjoyed fishing, swimming and sports, and their deaths, though honorable, broke their families’ hearts and left a void in the community.

New plaques will be added as needed for men and women who died in the military in harm’s way while performing a service for the nation, and who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom.

To raise funds for the project, the group is accepting donations through the American Legion Post 175. No government funds are being provided, according to Kavanagh.
They kicked off the project and the fundraising appropriately on July 4 with several of the families and supporters who were marching in the Severna Park parade.

Kavanagh said the group hopes to raise enough funds to break ground by Veterans Day. Visit www.legionpost175.org for more information.


Eric Matthew Kavanagh
PFC, United States Army
Purple Heart/Bronze Star
Operation Iraqi Freedom
June 1, 1986–September 20, 2006

Eric Kavanagh died in Bagdad, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during combat operations. He was 20 years old. Eric loved Severna Park and especially loved fishing, swimming and boating in Old Man Creek and the Magothy River. He enjoyed music and playing guitar, and he especially loved his younger brother and sister, Patrick and Alanna, also of Severna Park, as well as his mother, Rhonda, and father, Kevin.

Eric William Herzberg
Lance Corporal, United States Marine Corps
Purple Heart
Operation Iraqi Freedom
June 7, 1986–October 21, 2006

Eric Herzberg died in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, while conducting combat operations. He was 20 years old. Eric was an athlete, a fan of Irish and patriotic country music, and a wicked video gamer and rugby player who loved his country and his Catholic faith. Eric loved his older sister and younger brother, Katie and Matthew, also of Severna Park as well as his mother, Gina, and father, Eric.

William Taylor Wild IV
Lance Corporal, United States Marine Corps
Operation Enduring Freedom
December 17, 1991-March 18, 2013

Taylor Wild died during a training exercise at Hawthorne Army Depot in Nevada. He was 21 years old. Previously, Taylor served in Afghanistan in 2011. In addition to being an athlete, Taylor was an avid Ravens and Orioles fan. He enjoyed spending time boating with friends on the Severn and Magothy rivers and enjoyed skeet shooting. He loved his brother and sister, Griffin and Libby, also of Severna Park, as well as his mother, Elizabeth, and father, William.

Nathaniel H. McDavitt
Airman First Class, United States Air Force
Operation Enduring Freedom
June 23, 1993-April 15, 2016

Nathaniel McDavitt died in Afghanistan when a severe wind storm collapsed the building he was working in; he was 22 years old. He played sports for Severna Park High School, served with the Boy Scouts, with which he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, and was a community volunteer. Nathan loved his siblings Harrison, Olivia, Bruce III, Tatum and Danielle of Severna Park; his wife, Alexis; and his mother, Jeanette, and father, Philip.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here