Farewell Salute to the Troops held.

A farewell salute for members of the 50th Brigade was held on Saturday, 1 May 2004, at the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton. The Brigade began deploying for a year-long mission guarding the detention facilities at Guantanamo Naval Base, Cuba. COL Caruso, the Brigade Commander, and CSM Jenkins, the Brigade CSM, will lead a force of over 600 New Jersey Guardsmen from the 2nd-113th Infantry Battalion, 2nd-102nd Armor Battalion, and the 350th Finance Detachment on this mission. Governor James E. McGreevey, BG Glenn K. Rieth, The Adjutant General, Senator Jon Corzine, and BG LeClaire, the current Task Force Deputy Commander at Guantanamo addressed the soldiers and their families. Many other dignitaries, including Congressman Rush Holt, local mayors, Presidents of Veterans Organizations, and retired General Officers filled the stage. The Brigade was presented with American and State flags, as well as a framed picture of the American Red Cross mascot, Rusty. The Emerald Society Pipes and Drums, the NJ Army National Guard’s 63rd Army Band, and the USO provided entertainment. It was a truly remarkable day, and one that will be remembered by all who attended as a great sendoff for the Brigade!

Governor James E. McGreevey signs Executive Order creating the Commission to Support and Enhance Military and Coast Guard Installations in New Jersey.

With an audience that included over 200 industry and small business representatives, veterans, and representatives from local government, colleges, and universities, Governor McGreevey signed Executive Order No. 106, which created the Commission to Support and Enhance Military and Coast Guard Installations in New Jersey. Governor McGreevey named Paul Gaffney II, president of Monmouth University and retired Navy Vice Admiral, as chairman of the Commission. COL (Ret) Emil Philibosian, Deputy Commissioner for Veterans Affairs, acted as emcee at the ceremony held at the Trenton War Memorial on Monday, 3 May 2004, and introduced Professor Michael Lahr, who provided a brief overview of the main points in the newly released Rutgers Report on the Economic Impact of Military and Coast Guard installations in New Jersey.

Veterans honored at Medal Ceremonies across the State.

Veterans were honored with the Distinguished Service, Meritorious Service, Vietnam Service, and Korean War Commemorative Medals in ceremonies across the state last week.

On Thursday, 29 April 2004, COL Leonard Luzky, Infantry PAO Joint Force Headquarters, presented the Distinguished Service and Meritorious Service Medals to 69 veterans at a ceremony held at the Elks Lodge in Toms River, New Jersey.

On Friday, 30 April 2004, the Vietnam Service Medal was presented to 40 veterans in Sauter Park, Bellmawr, New Jersey.

Ms. Patricia Ann Richter, Chief, Veterans Benefits Bureau (VBB), served as Mistress of Ceremony at both ceremonies, and was assisted by VBB employees, Karen Hansen, Michelle Johnson, Veteran Service Officer, Joseph Salzano, and SSgt Barbara Harbison, Public Affairs Office.

In a ceremony on Friday, 30 April 2004, Brigadier General Glenn K. Rieth, The Adjutant General, assisted by COL (Ret) Emil H. Philibosian, the Deputy Commissioner for Veterans Affairs, and William Devereaux, Director of Veterans Programs, presented 43 Korean War Veteran residents of our Menlo Park Veteran Memorial Home with the New Jersey Korean War Commemorative Medal.

First Army Inspector General visits USPFO.

The New Jersey USPFO received a First Army Inspector General visit during 19-23 April 2004. The purpose of the visit was to inspect the federal fiscal and property accountability of the NJ Army National Guard. The results of the weeklong inspection were that there were zero findings to be corrected. Several procedures the New Jersey USPFO is utilizing will be forwarded to other states to be used as models for success.

Pre-Mobilization In-Progress Review held.

Representatives of the J-3 and J-4 attended a pre-mobilization In-Progress Review in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III deployment of New Jersey units including the 42nd DISCOM, 250th Signal Battalion, 50th Main Support Battalion, and 50th MP Detachment on 29 April 2004. Items discussed included pre- and post-mobilization dates of the units, arrival dates of units to Fort Dix mobilization site, logistic and personnel requirements for the deployments. Many issues were resolved and planning for this operation is ongoing.

New Jersey National Guard opens Family Assistance Center.

The New Jersey National Guard opened a new Family Assistance Center this week. On Sunday, 2 May 2004, the seventh Family Assistance Center (FAC) was opened at the National Guard Armory in Jersey City. The Adjutant General, Brigadier General Glenn K. Rieth, addressed the invited guests of over 200 family members, soldiers, volunteers, local elected officials, community representatives, veterans' organizations, and senior members of the NJ Army and Air National Guard. General Rieth thanked everyone for their commitment to support the families of the deploying soldiers of Jersey City. He told the audience that, "as these brave soldiers deploy into Guantanamo and Iraq for an extended period, they will be able to focus on the mission at hand because their loved ones will be taken care of by us.” Mr. Jaime Vazquez, Veterans Services Director for Jersey City presented a City Proclamation on behalf of Mayor Cunningham. Assemblyman Anthony Chiappone offered his assistance and noted the importance of the Center; that it would well serve the families of Jersey City. The Grand Lodge of NJ (Masons) presented a framed print of The Prayer at Valley Forge to the Center. Sheilah Kelley is the Coordinator of the Jersey City FAC, which will also support the Newark and West Orange Armories.

Veterans Haven is the recipient of a $12,200 donation from the NJ State Society of Daughters of the American Revolution.

On 1 May 2004, Mr. Robert Durante, Superintendent of Veterans Haven, accepted a generous donation of $12,200 from the NJ State Society of Daughters of the American Revolution. This donation will assist with the purchase of a new van. Veterans Haven is a transitional housing program for homeless veterans. Men and women veterans may reside at Veterans Haven for up to two years, during with time they receive employment assistance and life-skill training. During the past nine years, Veterans Haven has opened its doors to more than 500 veterans.

Mobilization Exercise conducted.

A Mobilization Exercise was conducted from 27-30 April 2004 at both Fort Dix and the National Guard Training Center, Sea Girt, New Jersey in support of the 1st Battalion, 114th Infantry, NJ Army National Guard deploying to the Sinai Desert in support of Multi-Force Observers Rotation #47. During this three-day exercise, 425 soldiers were processed for deployment. Thanks to the Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ), including the J-1, J-3, USPFO, J-4, and all of the other JFHQ personnel supporting this vital mission. Good luck to the 1-114th Infantry on their deployment. Stay Safe!

DMVA holds Employee Awards Ceremony.

In a ceremony held at the Lawrenceville Armory on Thursday, 6 May 2004, BG Glenn K. Rieth presented Employee of the Year and Quarterly Awards to the following employees:

May is Women Veterans Awareness Month.

The NJ Advisory Committee for Women Veterans recently held their monthly meeting and members were presented with a copy of the Proclamation signed by Governor James McGreevey proclaiming May as Women Veterans Awareness Month. Any women who have served in the Military and wish to learn more about their benefits may attend the Committee’s meetings. Please contact Anna Hoffman, Committee Chair, at 908-534-4617, COL (Ret) Kathy Morrissey, Liaison to DMVA, at 609-530-6970, or Dr. Miriam LaTorro, Women Veterans Program Manager at the NJ Health Care System, East Orange and Lyons, at 973-676-1000. All are welcome to attend. Congratulations to all of our winners on a job well done!

Veterans to be honored at upcoming Medal Ceremonies.

The following ceremonies have been scheduled to honor our State’s veterans.

Armory Happenings – Check to see what’s happening at an Armory near you.

DMVA employees honored at NJ State Public Service Recognition Awards ceremony.

In conjunction with National Public Service Recognition Week, the 2004 State Employee Recognition Awards Ceremony was held today in the Patriots Theater at the Trenton War Memorial. Congratulations to the following DMVA employees who were honored for their dedication and contributions to State government:

Longevity Award:Renee McGuire

Co-Worker Recognition Award: Ellen Fruscione

Customer Service Excellence Award: Laura Branham

Exceptional Service Award: Robert Lauderman, Jill Priar, Gregory Stevens

Community Service Award: Charles Beam

Teamwork/Partnership Achievement Award: William Bozarth, John Adams, Daniel Barnes, Charles Beam, Raymond Benassutti, William Bland III, Herman Butler, David Challender, John Fernholz, Georgia Gregory, Rocco Lanzetti, Robert Lauderman, Wendall Laws, Scott Leonard, Ralph Pedrick III, Jill Priar, Patricia Ramey, Fred Rasiewicz, Charles Skeens, Gregory Stevens, John Tiger

NJ’s Freedom Loan Program is expanding…

It’s our pleasure to announce that the Pennsville National Bank has joined the list of financial institutions that have agreed to participate in the Freedom Loan Program. The Pennsville National Bank can be reached at 856-678-6006.

NJ Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial and Vietnam Era Education Center’s upcoming event schedule.

For more information about any of these events, please call the NJ Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation office at (732) 335-0033.

7 May, 11 a.m. - New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Remembrance Day ceremony at the NJ Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial

8 May, 1 p.m. - Film presentation of the stage play, Home of the Brave, with discussion by the director, Trish Kinney, and military consultant and /Vietnam Veteran, Walter Kudlacik.

31 May, 11 a.m. - Memorial Day Ceremony

Today in History…

Today is Friday, 7 May 2004 and the 128th day of the year. There are 239 days left in the year. On this day…

* 1763 – Indian chief, Pontiac, began all out war on the British in New York.

* 1847 – The AMA (American Medal Association) was founded in Philadelphia.

* 1915 – A German submarine sunk the Lusitania, a civilian ship. 1,198 people were killed.

* 1940 – Winston Churchill becomes Prime Minister.

* 1945 – Germany signed an unconditional surrender ending World War II. It took effect the next day.

* 1960 – Leonid Brezhnev became president of the Soviet Union.

* 1975 – President Ford declared an end to the Vietnam War.

* 1998 – Daimler-Benz bought Chrysler Corp. for close to $40 billion. It was the largest industrial merger on record.

Fun Food Facts –

* Americans eat an average of 18 pounds of fresh apples each year. The most popular variety in the United States is the Red Delicious.

* Mr. Peanut was invented in 1916 by a Suffolk, Virginia schoolchild who won $5 in a design contest sponsored by Planters Peanuts.

* Burger King uses approximately ½ million pounds of bacon every month in its restaurants.

* The secret recipe for Coca Cola, code-named “Merchandise 7X,” is kept under lock and key in a vault in the SunTrust Bank Building in Atlanta, Georgia, the home of Coke inventor Dr. John S. Pemberton and current world headquarters of Coca Cola International.

* In South Africa, termites are often roasted and eaten by the handful, like pretzels or popcorn.

* Table salt is the only commodity that hasn’t risen dramatically in price in the last 150 years.

Volunteer to help at a Family Readiness Center in your area!

Each week, more and more of New Jersey National Guard’s soldiers and airmen are being called to active duty and deployed around the globe, and volunteers are needed to assist the families being left behind. If you are able to volunteer to help out at a Family Readiness group in your area, please call our toll-free number, 1-888-859-0352.