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MANVILLE: Resident receives Legion of Honor Award

By Mary Ellen Zangara, Special Writer
   Manville resident Florence Maruca has spent many years helping those in need at her church and in the community. On Sunday she was honored at the Emmanuel Baptist Church where she has given of her time.
   Ms. Maruca was presented the Legion of Honor Award of the Four Chaplains Memorial Foundation by Judge Victor Rizzolo in front of the congregation following the 11 a.m. Sunday service.
   The recipients of the award are nominated by friends or relatives who want them to be honored for their acts of kindness and their participation in the interfaith community following the 11am Sunday Service. Friend Mary Evancho nominated Ms. Maruca for the award.
   ”I am just thrilled that Florence got this award. I just thank God and she more than deserves it, she is a wonderful person,” Ms. Evancho said.
   Ms. Evancho nominated Ms. Maruca because she knew her personality and all things she has done in that past.
   ”I am very familiar with what she has done. Taking care of her husband for 10 years, her mother-in-law for over two years, her brother-in-law — for months before he died she took care of him. She is a 20-year deaconess in this church. If anybody is sick, she will be at the hospital for hours with them. She is a good person,” Ms. Evancho said.
   In her nomination, Ms. Evancho listed the service that Ms. Maruca has performed for the church and the community and it included some of the following.
   Ms. Maruca held an interfaith Bible class in her home for 10 years; she has been a deaconess for the church; assists the leader of the Grief Support Group every spring and fall at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bound Brook; Ms. Evancho also received this award about 10 years ago.
   The survivors of a U.S. Navy vessel that was torpedoed in 1943 began the Chapel of Four Chaplains in 1947 to honor the memory of four men of different faiths. In 1951 president Harry Truman officially recognized the organization.
   The Legion of Honor Award is presented for service to the local community, the humanitarian award is presented at the state level, and the bronze medallion is presented at the national level. Some of the notable recipients include Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Carter and Reagan. Luminaries such as Bob Hope, John Glenn, Martha Raye, James Michener, Marian Anderson, C. Everett Koop, Tommy Lasorda, and Shirley Chisholm; as well as military personnel, veterans, and civilians from all walks of life nationwide have received the award.
   As Judge Rizzolo read the meaning of the award, saying: “The Chapel of Four Chaplains, a national non-profit organization, is founded upon one shining manifestation of our heritage: That of the four Army chaplains — George L. Fox, Alexander D. Goode, Clarke V. Poling and John P. Washington — who, after giving their life jackets to soldiers who had none, linked arms with one another and went down with the USAT Dorchester after it was torpedoed on Feb. 3, 1943.
   ”These four men of God had given away their only means of saving themselves in order to save others. The chaplains gathered together and led the men around them in a prayer and a hymn. They linked their arms together as the slant of the deck became severe.
   ”And just that way, with their arms linked in brotherhood and their heads bowed in prayer, they sank beneath the waves. It was a heroic act. It was not only heroic act aboard the Dorchester, but it was especially significant because of the identity of these four young men; two Protestants, a Catholic and a Jew.
   ”Today, as it has these many years, the Chapel of Four Chaplains serves the memory of these brave men and carries their message of interfaith cooperation and selfless service to every part of our country.
   ”To recognize and encourage acts of volunteerism, brotherhood, and sacrifice among Americas of every age and station of life, the Chapel established the Legion of Honor program. The Legion of Honor Award is given in recognition of exceptional selfless service on the part of an individual which contributes to the well being of his or her community and to a spirit of interfaith cooperation.”
   Ms. Maruca was honored to be included in such an elite group people.
   ”I thank you for coming today for this special occasion and thank you for this service. I feel very humbled standing here today, not worthy of such an award as this.
   ”I have lived a very ordinary life with a lot of blessings in it,” Ms. Maruca said. “I came to this country when I was 21. I was born in Canada; I married into an Italian family, a big Italian family and I started my life in America.
   ”When my husband died recently I had the choice of going back or staying here. I am an American now so I could never go back thinking that I was a Canadian or having allegiance to another flag.
   ”The truth is that I am more patriotic because this country has been very good to me. On this special day, I am going to say that this church has been very good to me. I was honored by asked to be a deacon this year. I can’t say no to God and that has been a great blessing in my life because I took a simple verse from Paul’s ministry which said ‘Remember Phoebe, a helper of many’ and I just based my work on that, a helper of many.”
   Ms. Maruca continued by explaining how she has helped the church and the community.
   ”When I saw little things, little people that were uncomfortable, new people that didn’t fit in, I tried to give them a little hand. That’s really all I did,” she said. “Simple things that any person would do but it has blessed me greatly in my life it has grown me spiritually and I am grateful for that opportunity that was given. I feel humbled for receiving this award and to my friend Mary for nominating me.”
   The Rev. Greg Cercone presented Ms. Maruca with a bouquet of flowers then, concluded the service with a blessing for her along with Elders Roman Fabiyan and Gary Tambs. Afterwards, the congregation was invited to continue the celebration with a lunch and cake congratulating Ms. Maruca.
   Neil Maruca, one of her two sons, came from Hackettstown to see his mother presented with this special award.
   ”I am very proud of her. She has always been very caring about the community and the people around her. It is tremendous to have her recognized with an interfaith award like this one,” he said.