West Deptford Welcomes Home Marine

With his family around him and around 10 of his brother firefighters from Verga standing behind him, Marine Cpl. Stephen L. Stippick was welcomed home and formally recognized by the West Deptford Township Committee Thursday night.

The former standout athlete at , who gave up a track scholarship to Stockton University to go into the Marines after graduating in 2006, stood quietly as a long list of his accomplishments and service were read.

Mayor Anna Docimo praised Stippick as a true hero.

“We're so grateful to have you in our community,” she said.

Stippick, who has served in the Middle East and Africa, returned home in April from his deployment in Afghanistan, and said it feels “outstanding” to be back.

“I'm still in awe,” he said. “There's no place like America, that's for sure.”

Now that he's back, he's aiming to start a career in the police force, with his eye on enrolling at the Gloucester County Police Academy in the near future.

And after serving abroad and seeing the often miserable conditions, Stippick said he's going to stay put for quite awhile.

“I probably won't leave again,” he said.