WWII veteran, turning 100 on Saturday, honored at pinning ceremony

Reporter: Rodaris Richardson Writer: Paul Dolan
Published: Updated:

Veterans Day is an opportunity to honor those who spent part of their lives in the armed forces, which is exactly what Avow Hospice is doing. Pins and certificates that show gratitude to the people who risked their lives for our freedom.

The pins that are used by Avow Hospice for the pinning ceremony. CREDIT: WINK News

Avow’s mission is to honor veterans every day but on Friday they take above and beyond to new heights. They travel to a series of senior homes and hold a pinning ceremony for veterans.

WINK News spoke with Ray Maloney, a World War II veteran, whose incredibly close to reaching a milestone very few people have.

A picture of Ray Maloney during WWII. CREDIT: WINK News

Maloney is one of the 45 heroes honored on Veterans Day at Arbor Glen Assisted Living in Naples. The memories of his service during WWII continue to vividly replay in his mind.

“I fought my war in France, and then Italy, France first and I was in the invasion of southern France, not Northern France, about four weeks after D-DAY in Normandy,” Maloney said.

Maloney was taken prisoner and experienced a level of suffering few can imagine and less can endure.

“The third Army liberated my camp. I think April 29 of 1945,” Maloney said. “We were all starving. When I was shot down I weighed 165. When I was liberated six months later, I weighed 125 I was a skeleton.”

Cres Maloney, Ray’s wife during his WWII deployment. CREDIT: WINK News

Back home, his wife Cres was worried while waiting and waiting for her husband to return.

“I went several months not knowing whether he’d be dead or alive. And he was a prisoner of war. And I didn’t know it. It took several months before, you know it was notified. It was not a happy time,” Cres said.

Every Veterans Day the Maloney’s reflect on these and other memories from almost 80 years ago.

American flag. CREDIT: WINK News

Maloney will turn 100 years old on Saturday, which is just another reason this time of the year is so special for this couple.

“Her birthday is October, mine is early November. So my family without our knowledge got together to try to pick a day between the two to have a reunion,” Maloney said.

“It’s been a long way. We have three lovely children, all successful. And we thank God every day,” Cres said.

Arbor Glen is one of the locations where Avow held pinning ceremonies on Friday. In total the non-profit agency honored more than 800 veterans this week.

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