At a South Jersey School, Veterans' Day Remembrance For a Favorite Son
By Steve Tawa
SEWELL, N.J. (CBS) -- A US Marine helicopter pilot who died in Afghanistan was fondly remembered today during a Veterans' Day ceremony at Rowan College at Gloucester County.
According to his mother, Ryan Iannelli grew up in East Greenwich Township, NJ and, in 2007, feeling the need to serve his country, decided to give up his pursuit of a baseball career.
Today, addressing veterans and active service people (including a handful enrolled at Rowan), politicians, and other supporters, Donna Iannelli recalled that she helped motivate her son during Little League by shouting him the code words "four one three one nine," shorthand for the Biblical scriptures Philippians 4:13 and Joshua 1:9.
"They were two of Ryan's favorites," his mother said today. "They gave him the bravery to become an aviator, and the peace knowing that God would always have his back."
Ryan Iannelli died in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan in 2011. The baseball field at Kingsway Regional High School is named after him.
"He led them to the tri-county division win as a senior and captain of the team," Donna Iannelli notes. "His name is now on the scoreboard."