SC church to hold service for fallen Marine

GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — A Greenville church is holding a service in memory of a Marine killed in one of the Corps’ deadliest aviation training accidents.

The Lutheran Church of Our Saviour says on its website that a memorial service is happening Monday for Capt. Benjamin N. Cerniglia.

The 31-year-old living in Montgomery, Ala., was among seven Marines killed in an accident last week on a sprawling desert range near Yuma, Ariz.

All the Marines were part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. With 17,500 Marines and sailors, the unit conducts hundreds of aviation training exercises a year so troops can get as much experience as possible before they go to war.

Cerniglia was the son of the church’s senior Pastor Mark Cerniglia. A scholarship fund has been established for Cerniglia’s children.