After a parade of young marines and marine recruits passed his Florida home, a World War II veteran was left speechless and presented him with gifts.
Peter V. Ruvolo was surrounded by his Lake Worth neighbors who were moved to tears by Wednesday’s Young Marines at the Palm Beachesthanks for his many years of service. Ruvolo’s daughter JoAnn Ruvolo-Pedalino told Fox News that Ruvolo’s neighbor, Peter V. Ruvolo, was in tears Wednesday as they watched.
“Those young marines came up the block, my father stood up to salute them and wouldn’t sit down until that flag passed…it wasn’t unbelievable,” she stated, adding that her father “could barely locate the words” to describe how much that day meant to her.
The young men and women thanked him not only for his service but also for establishing the Young Marines on the Palm Beaches in the ’90s.
According to the Young Marines website, the program “strengthens America’s youth lives by teaching self-confidence and academic achievement, honoring veterans, good citizenship and living a healthy drug-free lifestyle.”
The Young Marines were founded in 1959 “with just one unit and a handful of boys”, before expanding to other parts of the country and abroad.
Ruvolo, however, was credited with the formation of the Palm Beaches unit, where he was support staff in the “formative years” when the unit was just getting off the ground. Foye Belyea, who is the unit commander for the Young Marines of the Palm Beaches told Fox News.
He said that the day was a “celebration for the sacrifices made by our military” as well as a promise of our future leaders.
The Young Marines met Ruvolo after the parade to discuss his experiences and to learn more about education, according Belyea.
Ruvolo Petalino stated that he felt like his legacy would continue because of the Young Marines. It was amazing the emotions he felt for these young children.
