[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 30, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E813]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING LIEUTENANT THOMAS A. PETRELLA, UNITED STATES NAVY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ROB SIMMONS

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 29, 2003

  Mr. SIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, during this time of war, our thoughts are 
constantly with our active duty military personnel overseas, and also 
with all of the men and women who wore the uniform of the United States 
military through the years. I rise today to honor an individual who 
will retire this month following a long tour of service to this 
country.
  Lieutenant Thomas A. Petrella enlisted in the United States Navy in 
1980 and served as an intelligence specialist aboard four different 
aircraft carriers, a cruiser, and a nuclear attack submarine. Thom 
served 10 great years of commissioned service using his knowledge and 
extensive experience to better his community.
  Throughout his successful 23-year career, Thom focused on his duties 
to aid our Nation and the United States Navy. He concludes his 
spectacular career as a Vietnam War analyst at the Department of 
Defense where he analyzed cases of Americans missing from the Vietnam 
War, including that of Captain Arnold Holm, a resident of Connecticut's 
Second District of whose greatness I have spoken here before.
  Lieutenant Petrella epitomizes the type of person we would like to 
have serving in our Armed Forces, someone who believes in this country, 
in its values, someone who believes in faith and family and hard work, 
and someone who has a great appreciation for the blessings of freedom 
and who worked during his years to promote the values that have made 
this country a great place to be.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking and congratulating 
Lieutenant Thomas Petrella for his dedicated and committed service to 
this Nation. Your best years are still to come. I would also like to 
extend these wishes to his wife Renee and their children Kara, Ryan and 
Cody.

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