Political Quotes

“today I pay tribute to a very special Rhode Islander, COL Ray Renola, USA (Ret.), who holds a unique distinction among all Americans. Mr. Renola, at 104 years old, is the oldest living graduate of my alma mater, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. A member of the class of 1940, Mr. Renola stands at the head of the Long Grey Line of West Pointers who have served the Nation since 1802. As described in a recent column by Mark Patinkin in the Providence Journal, Ray was the son of Italian immigrants and one of eight children raised on the West End of Providence. He was a graduate of Classical High School in Providence and then entered Brown University, but in 1936, he made the decision to serve his country and restart and complete his college education at West Point. Like many of our World War II veterans, Ray did not talk much about his service on the western front as a lieutenant colonel and commanding officer of the 375th Field Artillery Battalion. In short, he deployed his battalion and led them against fierce enemy resistance, unpredictable weather, harsh terrain, and austere conditions. And he led them as they made great contributions to Allied forces during the push toward Berlin in 1944-1945. After the war, Ray continued his service to our country with postings from Belgium to the Pentagon, before retiring from the military after 20 years of service. He had a similarly successful career in the private sector, working for Bulova and GTE.…”