Lower Bucks Bridge Dedicated To Fallen Marine

LOWER BUCKS COUNTY, PA —The Route 413 bridge over U.S. Route 1 in Middletown Township will forever be remembered for a fallen Marine from Lower Bucks County.

During a ceremony on Thursday, the bridge was dedicated to Corp. John F. Muffler, a Langhorne Manor resident and Neshaminy High School graduate who lost his life on Oct. 23, 1983, at age 19 in the devastating Beirut barracks bombing.

State Sen. Frank Farry and State Rep. Joe Hogan introduced legislation to formally dedicate the bridge to Muffler.

Earlier this summer, the language was included in an omnibus package of dedications, now Act No. 63 of 2024.

Family members, veterans, local dignitaries, and many community members gathered at Wood Services, with a view of the bridge, to honor Muffler’s sacrifice.

The ceremony began with a presentation of colors by the 3rd Battalion 14th Marine Color Guard, followed by a welcoming by Farry, Hogan, veteran advocate Ed Preston, and a close friend and classmate of Muffler, Vince Muscato.

Muffler was a 1981 graduate of Langhorne-Neshaminy High School. He was a dedicated drummer in the high school band.

Muffler enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps right out of high school.

His adventurous spirit led him to choose a path that would take him to Okinawa, Japan, Korea, and ultimately, Beirut.

On Oct. 23, 1983, the suicide bombing attack on the U.S. Marine Corps barracks in Beirut claimed the lives of 241 American servicemen and wounded hundreds more.

Muffler was among the fallen, a victim of the horrific violence that shook the world. It was the deadliest single-day attack against U.S. Marines since the battle of Iwo Jima in 1945.

Muffler's sister and mother spoke during the ceremony. Hogan read a letter from Muffler’s brother, who was viewing the ceremony online. Many spoke so many kind words about Muffler and one thing that was certain was that he knew how to make people smile and laugh.

“I’m sad my children didn’t get to have their uncle in their life. I’m sad I didn’t get to see him grow up, get married, and have a family on his own. So much was lost that day,” his sister

“John was a young man who could make you laugh. In his nineteen years, many friends and family enjoyed his humor. He was a proud Marine,” his mother Joan said.

“Corporal Muffler lived a stone’s throw away from this bridge and I am honored that I had a part in ensuring his legacy will live on forever right here in his community,” Farry said.

“Honoring our Veterans is a responsibility I take very seriously,” Hogan said. “I am grateful that the community brought this request to Sen. Farry and I and honored that we were able to ensure Cpl. Muffler will forever be remembered.”

View bridge dedication ceremony here

(State Sen. Frank Farry)