[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 115 (Tuesday, July 28, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2042]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  HONORING MR. AND MRS. DICK RIDINGER, COMMENDABLE ARMY VETERANS AND 
                ADMIRED WOODBURY, NJ COMMUNITY CITIZENS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT E. ANDREWS

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 28, 2009

  Mr. ANDREWS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Dick and Mrs. 
Tommie Ridinger, residents of Woodbury, NJ for the past five decades. 
Dick and Tommie are 86 and 89 years old respectively, and have been 
married for the past 61 years. They met each other in Southern France 
while serving in the United States military during World War II.
  Mr. Ridinger was a second lieutenant and Mrs Ridinger was a nurse on 
the front lines in Marseilles, France. Mr. Ridinger is a short man, and 
when he was young he was self-conscious about his height. During combat 
in France, an enemy soldier fired a bullet at him. It skimmed off the 
top of his helmet, just barely missing his forehead. Never again has 
Mr. Ridinger complained about his height.
  At another point, Nazis attacked a house while Mr. Ridinger's platoon 
was inside. While seeking shelter inside a closet, he found a French 
book. The book contained a poem titled, in English, ``I Know Something 
Good About You.'' From that day forth, he embraced the teachings of the 
book and modeled his life philosophy after it.
  In Marseilles, France, Mrs. Ridinger aided wounded soldiers on the 
front lines back to health. When the war ended, Tommie returned home to 
New Jersey with Dick. Tommie was a nurse at Redbank and Oakview 
elementary schools for over 20 years.
  After the war, Mr. Ridinger served as a teacher, vice principal and a 
high school football coach at Paulsboro and Collingswood High Schools. 
His success led to his induction into the High School Coaches Hall of 
Fame in Canton, OH.
  Madam Speaker, Mr. and Mrs. Ridinger have served their country in 
extraordinary ways. Assisting our country both in World War II and in 
their community for decades, they deserve tremendous recognition for 
their service. I congratulate Mr. and Mrs. Ridinger and wish them best 
of luck.

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