This year, the PRUM team is excited to provide the first ever “PRUM Community Leadership Award”. This award will be given to an individual within the Philadelphia community who makes a significant effort to honor the fallen and serve their community, fully embracing the “If Not Me, Then Who…” mantra.

This year’s recipient will be USMC Corporal Roland Scarinci.

Roland joined the United States Marine Corps in December 1942 (of course, with his mother’s approval). He was only 17. Roland was eventually assigned to the 1st Marine Division, stationed in the Pacific Theater in the Solomon Islands and participated in the invasion of Okinawa.

At the war, he returned to his family home in Overbrook with his parents and three brothers, two of whom served in the military during World War II (US Army & Navy). Shortly after he met his wife, Gloria, on a Philadelphia transit bus. They moved to Northeast Philly to raise their two children where Roland worked as a paymaster for a Philadelphia area transportation company for 30 years and then as a house painter.

With no signs of slowing down, Roland became an armed security guard and performed security work until the age of 90. Corporal Scarinci is now a spry 97 year old veteran who says, “Serving in the Marines was the greatest time of my life… I have a lot of love for this country, a lot of love.”

Today, Roland continues to serve his community by playing patriotic songs and Frank Sinatra standards while wearing his Marine Corps dress blues uniform. Corporal Scarinci has played countless events including the Marine Corps birthday, patriotic gatherings, Special Olympics, and most recently the Phillies game. Throughout all of this excitement, his “rock” and wife of 72 years, Gloria, is by his side.