For Staff Sergeant Daniel Ervin, the support he gets out in the community for his service to the military reminds him why he puts on the Army National Guard uniform every day. It’s his honor to serve and protect. A longtime Marple resident, he and his wife Mandy have been raising their two children here for the past three years. During this month when we salute our Veterans and honor our military families, it’s our honor to introduce them as our Marple Friends & Neighbors Resident Feature.
Daniel was born and raised in Marple with his older brother and sister. He attended Loomis Elementary and Paxon Hollow Middle School. Growing up, Daniel played baseball for South Marple Little League and eventually the Broomall Newtown and American Legion leagues. He was a stand-out player, even making the All-State Team for the American Legion League when he was a teenager. He continued his baseball career at Marple Newtown High School (MNHS) and played second base for the high school team until he graduated in 2002. During his junior and senior years of high school, Daniel also volunteered as an EMT with the Marple Ambulance Corps, where his grandmother had once served as President. Daniel said he looks back fondly on his years at MNHS. “I especially appreciate the teachers I had,” said Daniel. “It was because of my Honors Physics teacher Mr. Andrews that I studied physics in college.”
After high school, Daniel spent two years at the Virginia Military Institute, the first state-supported military college in the United States. He had been inspired by both his grandfathers who were World II veterans to pursue a military career. During his time there he studied physics and history.
After a couple of years, Daniel felt a pull to pursue a different dream, which was music. While he was growing up his dad managed local music clubs and cabarets and as a student at Paxon Hollow Middle he was a member of both the concert and jazz bands there. He enjoyed playing drums and guitar. While pursuing a music career, Daniel said he knew pursuing a career in music would be hard work, but he didn’t want to regret not trying to fulfill his dream. “As AC/DC says, “It’s a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll!”
Although he enjoyed playing shows with his hard rock band for a couple of years, ultimately he was called to serve his country. In 2008, at age 24, he joined the Pennsylvania National Guard (PAARNG). From March-August 2009 Daniel completed basic training and infantry school and received the Distinguished Honor Graduate Award. After attending the Army Airborne School in August of that year, he served as an infantryman in Bravo Company 1st to 111th Infantry Regiment. Then in 2012, he was selected into the company’s Sniper Section and two years later he attended Sniper School. When he graduated he became a Sniper Team Leader from 2014-2020. While serving active duty with PAARNG from 2012-2014, he was also part of the Honor Guard, giving him the privilege of performing military funeral honors for over 1,100 PA and United States veterans. One of those veterans was William “Wild Bill” Guamere who was featured in the series, Band of Brothers.
In 2015, Daniel graduated from the Delaware County Community College Municipal Police Academy and served as a part-time police officer for a year. “No matter what I am doing, whether it was military service, police work or in the ambulance corps, I’ve always felt a call to service,” Daniel explained. “I love giving back and it makes me feel productive.”
For the past few years, he’s been serving active duty as a recruiter for the Marple Newtown area and beyond. “I love being able to be a hometown recruiter,” said Daniel. “I like to get involved in local events as well as ones in nearby towns. I share in that sense of pride and excitement that recruits experience when they take on the challenge of enlisting in the Army National Guard.” As a recruiter Daniel said he’s had the privilege of returning to his alma mater, MNHS, to speak with current students. It’s also the Army National Guard that supplies the MNHS football team with the camouflage jerseys for military theme night. “It gives me such pride to see the players wearing these uniforms and our community supporting the military,” he said.
Daniel is also still passionate about baseball and music. In his free time, he enjoys playing in a local men’s baseball league and is an umpire for several local leagues. For the past six years, he’s been an umpire for PIAA during the school year as well as the Central League, PAC 10 and Interac League Schools. During the Spring and Summer, he umpires in local semi-pro and college club leagues, including the Delco Baseball League. And, you can still find him playing drums and guitar. He especially loves attending live hard rock and heavy metal shows with his dad and his son. Since the summer of 2019, they have been to almost 45 shows!
Daniel met his wife Mandy in the summer of 2009 in Sea Isle City, NJ. They had mutual friends and often hung out when their friends would all meet up. Then the following Spring they both joined the same co-ed softball team and began spending a lot more time together, which eventually led to a romance.
Originally from Michigan, Mandy moved to Pennsylvania in 2005. She and her two younger brothers grew up in a small town called Gladwin, where most of her family still lives today. After attending Western Michigan University and then moving to Detroit for a few years, she wanted to try something new. A professional nanny, she began applying to jobs in California and Pennsylvania and landed a position in Downingtown, PA. A couple of years later she nannied for another family in the Main Line Area, around the same time she met Daniel.
After the couple had been dating for a while they took a trip to Mackinac Island in Michigan so she could introduce Daniel to her family. It was during that trip that Daniel proposed! They held their wedding in West Chester in 2013, but are still waiting to take that honeymoon.
Today, Mandy is the office manager of a full-service fashion consulting company called Coral + Hand based out of Devon, PA. She is also the owner and operator of a small online business called Made by ME. She creates personalized shirts, crafts, woodworking and home decor as well as seasonal items. While she was growing up, her mom was very crafty and Mandy always enjoyed scrapbooking and a few years ago began making items with a Circut machine. Eventually she began selling her items. “I love seeing the reaction of my customers when they see what I’ve created for them in person,” she said. “I take a lot of pride in my workmanship and attention to detail.”
Right now, everything for Made by ME is made to order. With her customized Philadelphia sports gear, she’s busier than ever. You can find her unique items on her Facebook pages. “Someday I’d love to have a place for customers to come in and shop spontaneously,” said Mandy.
Daniel and Mandy have two children, 10-year-old Ethan and 3-year-old Dillyn. A fourth grader at Worrall, Ethan inherited his dad’s passion for music. Whether it’s singing, writing lyrics, practicing his saxophone or going to concerts with his dad and grandfather, he absolutely loves music. Ethan’s parents said he loves being outside too. He enjoys going into the woods looking for snakes when he visits his grandparents’ home in Marple. He can also be found on his bike or swimming. “Ethan is very artistic and creative,” said Mandy. “He’s also very selfless, caring and a good friend.” Music isn’t the only thing he inherited from his dad and grandfather, as Mandy said he got their sense of “dad humor” too. “He’s very clever!”
Ethan’s little sister Dillyn was born in 2020 and she loves spending time outdoors too. She’s learning to ride her bike and enjoys going for walks. Described by her parents as smart and independent, she can be stubborn too. “She would stay outside all day if you let her,” said Mandy. Dillyn’s also a big Phillies fan and just attended her first game in September. “She always wants to see a “Schwarbomb!” said Daniel.
The baby of the family is Cooper, the Ervin’s 11⁄2-year-old golden retriever. “He’s a great dog that loves to be loved and make everyone happy,” said Mandy. Daniel said he would make a great search and rescue dog, so they may even have him certified. “He’s smart and he has a lot of potential,” Daniel added.
The Ervin family has been living in Broomall since 2020 after moving here from Havertown. “We were really lucky to find this home that became available so quickly after looking to move back to Broomall,” said Daniel. “We wanted our children to be able to grow up in the community I grew up in and to be a part of this outstanding school district.” Located in the Rose Tree Woods section, their street is lively and friendly. “We gather together on weekend nights whenever possible,” he added. “Everyone is so kind and willing to lend a helping hand whenever needed.”
Since Mandy started her online business, she’s felt everyone’s support from the community. “Seeing people share my content and support Made by Me by choosing my small business instead of the larger chain stores has been very uplifting,” said Mandy. And, when Daniel is out in the community, he’s humbled by the support from his Marple Newtown neighbors who make a point to thank him for his service. “When people thank me for my service, it just reassures me of why I put on my uniform every day!” he added.
We thank Dan and Mandy for sharing their story with us and thank Dan for his continued service to our community and country! Marple Friends and Neighbors would also like to thank all of our local veterans. Happy Veterans Day!
Do you know a Marple family, individual or nonprofit group who should become known by our community? Make your nominations for upcoming feature articles by emailing your ideas to Holly Stupak at HStupak@BestVersionMedia.com.