Bill would honor fallen Marine

The Sharon high graduate was killed by a suicide bomber in May 2005.
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- A new veterans outpatient clinic here may be named for a fallen Mercer County Marine.
Legislation was introduced in the United States House of Representatives on Wednesday to name the Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in honor of Sgt. Michael A. Marzano. The legislation was introduced by U.S. Rep. Phil English of Erie, R-3rd, and U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire of McCandless, D-4th.
"Giving the ultimate sacrifice, we are forever indebted to him. Michael's bravery, patriotism and valiant effort shall not go unnoticed," English said.
"Michael exemplified the core values of honor, courage and commitment, not only to his fellow Marines, but to a grateful nation and community," Altmire said.
A native of Greenville, Pa., Marzano graduated from Sharon High School in 1995 and went on to pursue his dream of becoming a Marine. Marzano was initially denied entry into the U.S. Marine Corps because of a torn knee ligament that occurred in a high school wrestling tournament his senior year. However, determined to fulfill his dream, Marzano re-applied to the U.S. Marine Corps until he was finally accepted four years later, in 1999.
What happened
After serving on active duty until 2003, Marzano went on to attend Glendale Community College in Phoenix and joined a local Marine Reserve unit. In December 2004, Marzano volunteered for a tour of duty in Iraq and joined Ohio's 3rd Battalion, 25th Regiment of the 4th Marine Division.
Marzano departed for Iraq on March 1, 2005, and served honorably with the 3-35 Weapons Company working as a part of the Mobile Assault Platoon (MAP) 7.
On May 7, 2005, 28-year-old Sgt. Michael A. Marzano was killed by a suicide bomber while taking part in an offensive against insurgents in the city of Haditha, Al-Anbar Province, Iraq.
He was the first soldier from Mercer County on active duty to give his life in the global war on terror.
In October 2006, the Veterans Affairs Medical Center at Butler opened a veterans outpatient clinic in Hermitage.
Local veterans from Mercer County called on English to have the new clinic named in honor of Sgt. Marzano.