Obituary of Fernandez N. Merjudio

On January 20, 1961 President John F. Kennedy said, in his inaugural address; ".ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. Fernandez N. "Fernie" Merjudio contributed to the manpower of our nation, fighting to uphold American ideals of freedom. The red of our flag was made redder by his heroism, the white more pure by the motives which impelled him and in the starry field of our nation's glorious banner; the blue has been glorified by the service he has given. In the early evening of Saturday March 10, 2012 the bugle sounded. Day is done, gone the sun, all is well, safely rest, God is nigh. Mr. Merjudio was born in Charleston, South Carolina and spent most of his life in Philadelphia, PA. Fernandez was old school. He was tough, inspiring and cheerful "Fernie" made a career and dedicated his life to a grateful nation in the U.S. Navy. He had served during WWII, The Korean Conflict and as a Boatswain's Mate on the USS Independence (CVA2) in Vietnam. "Fernie" retired at the rank of Chief Petty Officer and was awarded the National Defense Service, Vietnam Service with Bronze Star, Vietnam Campaign and the Navy Expeditionary medals. Following his military retirement, Mr. Merjudio had worked as a painter for the city of Long Beach, CA for 22 years. Fernandez loved his family and his home. He enjoyed reading, painting, Seinfeld and old western and war movies. Mr. Merjudio is the father of the late Arnoldo and is the brother of Salvador Reyes, Sr., Pedro Aquilar, Eleanor Mason, Filomeno Aquilar and the late Ulderico Merjudio, Dominador Reyes and Frank Aquilar. He is also survived and will be sadly missed by his many nieces and nephews. Our American soldiers don't fight because they hate what's in front of them; they fight because they love what's behind them. Hail to the Chief. We salute Fernandez N. Merjudio in a proud fulfillment of a great, noble call on Tuesday morning between 9 and 11 am at the LeRoy P. Wooster Funeral Home 441 White Horse Pike, Atco where a funeral ceremony will be celebrated at 11 am. Interment and military honors will follow at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Arneytown. As an expression of sympathy and in lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Disabled American Veterans 135 W. Hanover St., 4th flr., Trenton, NJ 08618 www.dav.org.