Staff photo by Ben Meritt.
Article published Jun 4, 2008 in The Hammonton News

Vigil honors Larry Angel

By BEN MERITT
Staff Writer

ABSECON -- More than two dozen area residents gathered here Friday to remember a local activist who died last month.

Friends of Larry Angel gathered at the Coalition for Peace and Justice's monthly peace vigil late Friday afternoon at the corner of routes 9 and 30.

Many in the group cried as they took turns speaking about Angel, whose website chronicled and kept tabs on the goings-on in Mullica Township.

"I guess Larry is still controversial in death as he was in life," said Mullica resident Mary Hunt after she put a yellow flower in a vase before speaking about Angel. "Larry and I, we didn't always agree on things. But he represented the people and made sure the information got out. He made sure there was justice to the extent of taking cases to court. He was doing what we all should be doing in this country. I think Larry will stay a part of our community."

Angel was active in the coalition efforts often offering silent protest on the Atlantic City boardwalk noting the number of American soldiers killed in Iraq War on a large placard.

Democrat Mullica Township Committeeman Michael St. Amour was with Angel the night before he died last month.

"I really couldn't believe it. I was in shock," St. Amour recalled. "The thing that I would want people to take away was that Larry was truly a champion of human rights. He was a champion that we were all treated as equals and he was a champion that we were all given the opportunity to have a good quality of life."

"He'll be missed a lot," added Mullica resident Vince Thoms.

A formal memorial service for Angel is in the planning stages.