LYNN– More than four decades after the death of Lance Corporal Bradley J. Campus, his name continues to resonate in his hometown, not only through a memorial at Clark Street playground, rededicated in 2023, but through a growing scholarship program for local high school seniors.
Campus, a graduate of Lynn English High School, was among 241 U.S. service members killed in the 1983 bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut. The attack marked one of the deadliest days for the U.S. Marine Corps since World War II. Today, his memory is being preserved in a way that reaches directly into the next generation.
After completing a recent memorial-related project, members of the Lynn Veterans Council found themselves with surplus funds. Rather than let the money go unused, they chose to establish the Bradley J. Campus Memorial Scholarship.
“We had extra money and were thinking about what kind of cause it could support,” said Charles Griffin, president of the Lynn Veterans Council. “Someone suggested a scholarship, and it was the perfect idea.”
Last year marked the inaugural round of awards. Three $1,000 scholarships were presented, two to students from Lynn English and one to a student from Lynn Tech. Applicants were required to complete a detailed packet, submit resumes, provide academic transcripts, and highlight their volunteer work and community involvement.
Griffin said the quality of applicants made the selection process especially challenging.
“The applications were fantastic,” Griffin said. “It was so hard to pick just three. These were truly outstanding kids, strong academically and very involved in volunteering and giving back to the community.”
To ensure fairness, organizers used a scoring rubric to evaluate submissions. This year, scholarship packets have been distributed to six high schools across the city, including alternative schools, to broaden access and ensure all eligible seniors have an opportunity to apply. Applications are due on March 27, but are expected to be reviewed in late May or early June.
Griffin noted that the packets containing all the information and requirements were distributed to all six high schools in the city for students who are interested in applying for the scholarship.
While the financial support is meaningful, Griffin emphasized that the scholarship’s deeper purpose is remembrance.
“With that special and ultimate sacrifice, you remember them any way you can,” he said. “Each time you remember them or say their name, they’re not really gone.”
The scholarship is open to graduating seniors regardless of whether they plan to serve in the military. Funds may be used at the recipients’ discretion, whether for tuition, housing, books, or other educational expenses. Griffin noted that last year’s recipients were high-achieving students who earned multiple scholarships and significant financial aid packages.
Still, he said, the award is about more than money.
“It’s such a good lesson for young people,” Griffin said. “Whether they choose to serve in the military or not, it’s important to understand that there are people who serve this country and are willing to sacrifice their lives.”
The 2023 rededication of Campus’s memorial at Clark Street playground reaffirmed the community’s commitment to honoring his service. For Griffin and the Veterans Council, the memorial and scholarship serve as complementary efforts, one providing a physical place for reflection, the other ensuring Campus’s story is shared with each new graduating class.
“It’s our duty to remember these people,” Griffin said. “People can be easily forgotten if their stories aren’t passed on. This keeps his name in the light. It reminds students that heroes were once young people themselves — classmates, neighbors — and that their sacrifice should never be taken for granted.”
As applications come in for the scholarship’s second year, organizers hope the program will continue to grow both in participation and in its impact, ensuring that Lance Corporal Bradley J. Campus’s legacy remains firmly rooted in the city he called home.
