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05-19-09
Mt. Vernon
Mt. Vernon's Steve Acunto
attends renamed Rocky Marciano Post Office ceremony
in Brockton, MA
Former
professional boxer and trainer, Steve Acunto, who has lived
in the same Mount Vernon house for over 75 years, recently
traveled to Brockton, MA to attend the renaming of a post
office in that city after the former heavyweight champion of
the world, Rocky Marciano, a former resident of Brockton.
In 1969, with Marciano, Acunto founded the American
Association for the Improvement of Boxing. He is now
President Emeritus and Chairman of the Board of that
prestigious organization.
The Brockton Post Office,
located at 120 Commercial Street in Brockton, was renamed
the Rocky Marciano Post Office in a formal ceremony held
April 26th at the postal facility. The renaming is a result
of Public Law 110-272, signed by President George W. Bush
after a bill was submitted to Congress by U.S. Congressman
Stephen F. Lynch.
“Rocky’s life was the
personification of the American dream. His relentless work
ethic, his pride in his community and his determination to
excel also made him a shining example of what is best about
the city of Brockton. I am proud to be able to honor him
with such a fitting tribute,” said Congressman Lynch when
the President signed H.R. 5528 into law.
This is not the first time
that the Postal Service has honored the legendary boxing
champion. In 1999, the Postal Service issued a stamp to
honor Rocky as the undefeated World Heavyweight Champion as
part of its Celebrate the Century series.
“Renaming the Brockton
Post Office for Rocky is a fitting tribute to the greatest
boxer of all time,” said USPS Southeast District Manager
Robert Cintron. “The Postal Service is pleased to be able to
join Congressman Lynch and the city of Brockton in
celebrating the life of a legendary hero to people all over
the world. “
Born Rocco Marchegiano on
Sept. 1, 1923, Marciano began training for his future career
by punching a stuffed mail sack that hung from an oak tree
in his backyard—an exercise that would forge the career of
one of the world’s greatest boxers and provide an ironic
link to the honor now bestowed upon him by the Postal
Service.
One of Marciano’s most
memorable fights occurred on Oct. 26, 1951, when he knocked
out his childhood hero Joe Louis. Often citing this fight as
his most difficult, Marciano remarked that he had
reservations about defeating the aging “Brown Bomber.”
Prior to earning fame and
fortune as a master of the “sweet science,” Marciano held
various jobs, including coal delivery for the Brockton Ice
and Coal Company and a career in minor league baseball. In
1943, he was inducted into the U.S. Army, stationed in
England. After World War II ended, Marciano made the
decision to represent his unit at Fort Lewis, Wash., in a
series of amateur fights, which is where the legend began.
Marciano was the only
heavyweight boxer to retire from the ring undefeated. He won
an unprecedented 49 straight fights, including 43 by
knockout. On Sept. 23, 1952, Marciano defeated Jersey Joe
Walcott to win the heavyweight title, despite being knocked
down in the first round and trailing Walcott going into the
13th round of the fight.
The dedication of the
Rocky Marciano Post Office featured a host of special guests
including members of the Marciano family – his son Rocky
Marciano, his brother Peter Marciano and his nephew Robert
E. Langway, Jr. as well as Congressman Stephen Lynch,
Brockton Mayor James Harrington, USPS Northeast Area Vice
President Tim Haney, USPS District Manager Robert Cintron,
Goody Petronelli, friend of Rocky and Trainer of the
Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Lawrence Siskind, President of the
Brockton Historical Society, Charlie Tartaglia of George’s
Café, Steve Acunto and more.
The Brockton Fire and
Police Departments presented the Colors, Yara Cardoso of the
Mayor’s Women’s Council and Youth Advisory Committee sang
the national anthem, Brockton postal employees Mark Caseri,
Fred Ricker, Don Sheehan and Sean O’Malley led the Pledge of
Allegiance and the Brockton Firefighters Pipes and Drums
offered a musical ensemble.
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(l to r) Steve Acunto and Peter Marciano, Rocky's older
brother |
Steve Acunto (l) pictured with Rocky's younger brother, Lou Marciano.
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