South Jersey Community Pays Tribute to Merchant Marines

John Mattioni (pictured), Chairman of the Board of Mattioni, Ltd., was the principal speaker at a Veteran’s day program held at Centennial Mill, in Voorhees, NJ, honoring the service of United States Merchant Mariners and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy students and graduates in World War II. Mattioni is a graduate of the Academy, the only federal service academy entitled to display its battle standard as a result of the loss of many students while serving on U.S. Merchant Ships in that conflict.

Centennial Mill holds a special community wide program each year honoring the veterans who serve in our nation’s armed forces. This fourth annual veteran’s day program honored the unsung heroes who manned our merchant ships in World War II but were not granted veterans status until 1988. More than 9,300 merchant mariners died as a direct result of enemy action, suffering losses at a rate greater than the casualties suffered by the U.S. Marine Corps.

The community center of Centennial Mill was filled to capacity, with more than 125 residents in attendance. Also honored at the program were Centennial Mills’ residents who served in World War II, and Air Force Captain Rebecca Selby, for her service in Afghanistan.

Mattioni, Ltd. is a law firm in the Philadelphia area that has been providing litigation support and counseling to businesses and individuals throughout the Delaware Valley for more than forty years. Learn more at www.mattioni.com.