MILITARY & VETERANS AFFAIRS
NEWS RELEASE

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:
G. Natasha Zoe
101 EGGERT CROSSING ROAD
LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ 08648
609-530-6942
RELEASE:
IMMEDIATE (28 September 2001)

 
1,259  New Jerseyans will Receive State’s Top Military Award in October

During October the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will be holding five award ceremonies to present the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal, the state’s top military award, to 1,259 state residents who are combat veterans of  World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, Persian Gulf War, Somalia or Bosnia.

The NJ Distinguished Service Medal was originally issued in 1858 for those who had distinguished themselves in the New Jersey Militia, but was infrequently used until re-authorized by Governor Kean in 1988. 

After the Spanish American War, the Mexican Border Expedition and again after World War I, the State of New Jersey minted special medals for returning NJ veterans to honor their service. After WWII, Korea, Vietnam and subsequent combat actions no such medal was available. The State of New Jersey was looking for an appropriate way to honor all of these returning combat veterans and acknowledge the debt the state owed them for their service. The NJ DSM was then authorized for that purpose. It is New Jersey’s highest military award. 

Since its re-authorization in 1988, more than 4,000 medals have been awarded to combat veterans from New Jersey. “The New Jersey veterans receiving the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal are a credit to our state and our nation.  Their sacrifice and their bravery in combat is truly deserving of New Jersey’s highest military award.  The award also serves as a great way to thank our veterans for their extraordinary achievements while our nation has been at war,” said Acting Governor Donald T. DiFrancesco.

In order to be eligible for the Distinguished Service Medal you must meet all the following criteria:

  • currently be a resident of New Jersey
  • have been a resident of New Jersey  at the time you entered into military service
  • have been honorably discharged
  • have proof of having served in combat while on active duty during wartime. 
Those recipients whose service was recognized by the award of the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Air Medal or equivalent medal will receive a NJ Distinguished Service Medal with an oak leaf cluster. 
The DSM can be awarded posthumously to the next-of-kin of a veteran who meets the criteria.
Anyone interested in applying for the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal should send a written request together with copies of all pertinent information, discharge document (e.g. DD 214 ), award citation, honorable discharge, etc. to: 
NJDMAVA
ATTN: CIO-GS-PA
P.O. Box 340 
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0340
Be sure to include full name, home address and daytime telephone number.

The New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal Ceremonies in October are scheduled for:

Tuesday, October 2, at 11:00 a.m.
188 Atlantic County Combat Veterans
Host - Senator Bill Gormley and Assemblyman Francis Blee
Location – The New Convention Center, One Miss America Way, Atlantic City
 
Wednesday, October 3, 11:00 a.m.
96  Mercer County Combat Veterans
Host – Senator Peter Inverso
Location – War Memorial Building, Trenton
Note – This ceremony was rescheduled from Thursday, September 20, at 11:00 a.m

Thursday, October 4, 11:00 a.m.
130 North Bergen County Combat Veterans
Host – County Executive Pat Schuber
Location – Law and Public Safety Institute – Hall of Heroes, 281 Campegaw Raod, Mahwah 

Tuesday, October 9, at 11:00 a.m.
250 Monmouth County Combat Veterans
Host – Senator Joe Kyrillos
Location – New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial, Holmdel

Wednesday, October 10, 10:00 a.m.
191 Essex, Sussex, Hudson and Warren County Combat Veterans
Host – N.J. Department of Military and Veteran Affairs
Location – Teaneck Armory, Teaneck & Liberty Rd, Teaneck, NJ 07666 
Note – This ceremony was rescheduled from Wednesday, September 12, 10:00 a.m.

Wednesday, October 10, 2:00 p.m.
194 Essex, Sussex, Hudson and Warren County Combat Veterans
Host – N.J. Department of Military and Veteran Affairs
Location – Teaneck Armory, Teaneck & Liberty Rd, Teaneck, NJ 07666 
Note – This ceremony was rescheduled from Wednesday, September 12, 2:00 p.m.

Thursday, October 11, at 11:00 a.m.
150 Middlesex County Combat Veterans
Host – Senator Joe Vitale
Location – N.J. Veterans Memorial Home at Menlo Park, Menlo Park

Tuesday, October 16, at 7:00 p.m.
153 Passaic and Essex County Combat Veterans
Host – Senator Norm Robertson and Assemblyman Gerry Zecker
Location – Clifton High School, 333 Colfax Ave., Clifton

Wednesday, October 17, at 11:00 a.m.
200 Union and Middlesex County Combat Veterans
Host – Assemblyman Joe Suliga
Location – Westfield Armory, Westfield

Thursday, October 25, at 11:00 a.m.
92 Southern Bergen County Combat Veterans
Host – Assemblyman Paul DiGaetano
Location – Garfield VFW Post, 340 Outwater Lane, Garfield

Tuesday, October 30, at 2:30 p.m.
60 Huterdon and Warren County Combat Veterans
Host - Senator Bill Schluter
Location – American Legion Post 151, 41 Hyw 31, Flemington

 For a faxed or e-mailed list of the names and hometowns of veterans receiving medals at any of these local ceremonies call G. Natasha Zoe at 609-530-6942 or e-mail at Zoe@NJDMAVA.state.nj.us
 


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