5 March 2004

   Volume 3, Number 9

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NJ Dept of Military and
Veterans Affairs

BG Glenn K. Rieth
The Adjutant General

Col Maria Falca-Dodson
Deputy Adjutant General

COL (Ret) Emil H. Philibosian
Deputy Commissioner for Veterans   Affairs

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Contacting us is easy!

Office of the Joint Chief of Staff

COL (Ret) Michael B. Smith

Mrs. Laura A. Branham

Phone: (609) 530-6987

Fax:  (609) 530-7109

Email:

branham@njdmava.state.nj.us

We're on the Web!
www.state.nj.us/military

The Department honors Employees of the 2nd & 3rd Quarters 2003.

BG Glenn K. Rieth, The Adjutant General, hosted a ceremony that honored the Department of Military & Veterans Affairs’ 2003 Employees of the 2nd and 3rd Quarters at a ceremony on Wednesday, 4 March 2004, at the Lawrenceville Armory. Congratulations to all our winners!

The Coordinators and Canvassers for the 2003 State Employees Charitable Campaign were also honored.

Governor James E. McGreevey visits the Veterans Memorial Home at Paramus.

Governor McGreevey spoke to residents, staff, and volunteer veterans organizations about his proposed budget increases for New Jersey’s veterans programs. He is seeking additional operating funds for Veterans Homes at Paramus, Menlo Park, and Vineland. The Governor’s budget also requested $627,000 in State funding to match an anticipated federal Veterans Administration grant of $1.4 million to build a much-needed multi-purpose room at the Paramus Home. The multi-purpose room project was initiated through a $105,000 donation from Rochelle Park’s American Legion Post 170.

New Jersey National Guard’s ChalleNGe Youth Program graduates 91 cadets.

Ninety-one cadets graduated from the NJ National Guard’s ChalleNGe Youth Program in a ceremony held on Saturday, 28 February 2004, at the Trenton War Memorial. Representative Rush Holt, D-Hopewell Township, delivered the keynote address. The 22-week program, open to 16-18 year olds who have withdrawn from high school for a month or more, includes training in attitude expectations, honor code, and drill and ceremony procedures at Fort Dix, along with General Education Development testing, leadership, life skills, and physical fitness components. The final phase of the program is a one-year period during which time mentors offer guidance to the graduates at home. COL (Ret) Kenneth Prossick, the Program’s Director, said that 25 percentof the 91 graduates will enlist in the military, 32 percent have jobs and 40 percent are pursuing higher education. Founded in 1994 with a federal grant requested by the NJ Department of Military & Veterans Affairs, the program is one of 26 nationwide supported by the Department of Defense. In just two weeks, 165 young men and women will join the program and become part of the 20th class of ChalleNGe Program cadets.

Veterans Memorial Home at Paramus hires new Business Manager.

Mr. Jeffrey Mascoll began his employment as the new Business Manager for the Veterans Memorial Home at Paramus this week. Mr. Mascoll has a wealth of general accounting and business experience, most recently at BASF Corporation, a chemical manufacturing company in Mount Olive, New Jersey. Jeff is a veteran, and currently serves in the Army Reserves. Good luck, Jeff!

DMVA represented Governor McGreevey during “Read Across America” week.

As part of “Read Across America – NJ,” COL (Ret) Michael B. Smith, Assistant Commissioner, represented Governor McGreevey at the Eldridge Park School in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, on Monday, 1 March 2004. Colonel Smith visited with the third graders in Ms. Lindsay Woolston’s class, and read Patricia Polacco’s Thank you, Mr. Falker. “Read Across America” was started in 1998 by the National Education Association as a way to get kids excited about reading, and has gone on to become the nation’s largest reading event. The year-round program culminates each year on or near Dr. Seuss’s birthday (March 2).

Veterans Memorial Home Chief Executive Officers (CEO) attend National Association of State Veterans Homes (NASVH) winter meeting.

Ms. Doris Neibart, CEO of the Veterans Memorial Home at Paramus and NASVH Second Vice President, and Mr. Joseph Brandspiegel, CEO of the Veterans Memorial Home at Menlo Park, recently attended the NASVH winter meeting in Washington, D.C. The meeting’s objective was to promote the goals and mission of state veterans’ long-term care facilities throughout the country. Their visit to Washington also included a trip to “The Hill.” Ms. Neibart and Mr. Brandspiegel were able to thank the Veterans Administration for its support in providing the necessary funding for the new Vineland facility and the upcoming Multi-Purpose Room at Paramus, and discussed the opening of the Old Glory Wing at Menlo Park. Other issues discussed that affect all three of the Veterans Homes included budget concerns, the nursing shortage, and census problems.

Military concerts are scheduled for our area.

:: The Times of Trenton is partnering with the Patriots Theater to present the US Air Force Band "Ambassadors of Jazz Ensemble" this Friday, 5 March 2004, at 8 pm. 300 tickets have been set aside for members of the Department of Military & Veterans Affairs.

:: The Women in the Military War Memorial event is a partnership with the Greater Trenton Symphony Orchestra. A concert is scheduled for Sunday, 7 March, at 3 p.m. in the Patriots Theater at the War Memorial to honor Women in the military and Women's History Month. 350 tickets have been set aside for members of the Department of Military & Veterans Affairs.

Tickets for these two concerts are available by contacting LTC Steve Ferrari, Assistant Chief of Staff-Army, at 609-562-0954.

:: Members of The U.S. Army Field Band will be performing in the area during an upcoming tour. As the Musical Ambassadors of the Army, The Concert Band and Soldiers’ Chorus, the Jazz Ambassadors, and the Volunteers each travel more than 100 days annually throughout the United States and abroad. During those tours they reach thousands of citizens who would otherwise have little or no contact with the military. The concerts are free and open to military service members, their families, and the public. However, tickets are required and these are normally available from the civilian sponsor indicated on the schedule shown below.

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.

27 Mar, 1 p.m. - “The Hidden History of the Antiwar Movement,” an Author Lecture Series presentation by Vietnam-era Veteran H. Bruce Franklin, author of Vietnam and other American Fantasies.

17 April, 11 a.m. - Chapter One: The Story of Vic Charles (a novel) – An Author Lecture Series presentation by Vietnam Veteran Bob Staranowicz at the Vietnam Era Educational Center.

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

Deadline for NJ Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation’s scholarship program nears.

This school year (2003-2004) the NJ Vietnam Veterans Foundation is awarding two $2500 scholarships. Qualified students must be graduating seniors from a New Jersey High School and have plans for post-high school education (college, community college, trade school, etc.). Further information and the application can be found on the website, www.njvvmf.org, and clicking on the link. If you do not have access to the internet, you can call Lynn Duane, Administrative Assistant at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation, at 732-335-0033 for an application.

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

NJ Transit prepares to launch River LINE.

Beginning 14 March, NJ Transit will launch River LINE, a new light rail service linking Trenton, Camden, and points in between. River LINE will provide service to employment locations, commercial areas, and recreation destinations. Best of all, riding River LINE is economical – a one-way trip costs just $1.10 a ride. For more information you can call 1-800-626-RIDE or visit www.RiverLINE.com for a complete schedule and list of stations.

20th Century Dates of Importance to American Women.

1900 – For the first time, women are allowed to compete in the Olympics. Margaret Abbot wins a gold medal in golf for the U.S.

1914 – Mother’s Day becomes a national holiday.

1920 – The House of Representatives passes the women’s suffrage amendment, 304 to 89. The Senate passes it with just two votes to spare. Two-thirds of the states ratify it, making a woman’s right to vote the 19th Amendment to the U.S, Constitution.

1928 – The Pap test is developed for early detection of uterine and cervical cancer.

1942 –The Army, Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps establish women’s military services.

1957 – Women and men vote in approximately equal numbers for the first time.

1960 – Enovid, the first birth-control pill, goes on the market.

1961 –President Kennedy creates the President’s Commission on the Status of Women, chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt. In its report back to the President in 1963 the Commission documents discrimination against women in virtually every area of American life.

1963 – The Equal Pay Act, proposed 20 years earlier, established equal pay for men and women performing the same job duties.

1966 - National Organization for Women (called NOW) is organized.

1972 – The Equal Rights Amendment is passed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification. The Amendment fell short by 11 votes in 3 states.

1973 – In Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court established a woman’s right to abortion.

1976 – Title IX goes into effect, opening the way for women’s increased participation in athletic programs and professional schools.

1976 – U.S. military academies open admission to women.

1977 – Early breast cancer detection improves with the mammogram.

1981 -- Sandra Day O’Connor is the first woman ever appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. In 1993, Ruth Bader Ginsberg joins her.

1986 – The Supreme Court rules that sexual harassment in the workplace is illegal.

1992 – Women are allowed to fly combat aircraft, opening the way for advances in their military careers.

1996 – U.S. women’s spectacular Summer Olympic success (19 gold medals, 10 silver, 9 bronze) is credited to their opportunities under Title IX.

2000 – U.S. Department of Labor estimates women comprise half of the paid workforce.