Marine Corps League Ridgefield Detachment Awards RHS Senior the Col. Richard E. Romine Leadership Scholarship

Congratulations to Ridgefield High School senior, Courtney Carbone who received the Col. Richard E. Romine Leadership Scholarship today during a breakfast celebration at the Ridgefield Detachment of the Marine Corp League headquarters on Halpin Lane.

"To be considered for this award you have to have a family member who is a marine. Martin's dad (Martin Carbone Sr) was a major in the 1st Marine Division and served in the Korean War," explains Carbone's mother, Kim. 

The scholarship is awarded in honor of the late Col. Richard E. Romaine, a Marine Helicopter Pilot and a member of the Marine Corps League Ridgefield Detachment. "We named our scholarship after Col. Romaine in recognition of his leadership and courage. It is awarded to those young mena nd women who display those characteristics in order to encourage their development as they advance in their carers adn move through life," the Marine Corps League explains. 

According to the Marine Corps League, Col. Richard E. Romaine was awared the Navy Cross, Distinguished flying Cross, a Bronze Star, and two Purple Hearts for his tours of duty in Vietnam. His highest honor, The Navy Cross, was earned in June of 1967 when he led a flight of five helicopters on a mission to rescure 70 men in Laos who were under attack, surrounded, and outnumbered.

Courtney is the daughter of Kim and Martin Carbone, longtime Ridgefied residents. She will attend Gettysburg College in the fall. 

*Image by Kim Carbone