According to the Mayor, the idea for a local Veterans Services office gained momentum in May of this year when he met Brigadier General Glenn K. Rieth, the state’s Adjutant General and head of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs at the dedication of an AH1 Cobra Attack Helicopter during the Township’s Armed Forces Day celebration. 

Mayor Gilmore, himself a veteran of the 82nd Airborne, an active supporter of veterans and the military, has been involved in a number of veterans / military activities in addition to those that have taken place in the Township.  He has attended the National Guard’s Annual Military Review and Awards ceremonies in Sea Girt; moderated a panel on Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve issues for the State League of Municipalities Conference, and has been a frequent participant in many local veterans organization functions.

Colonel Emil Philibosian, Deputy Commissioner for Veterans Affairs for the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (NJDMAVA) represented General Rieth at the Council meeting.  He briefed the members of the Council and a number of local residents attending the meeting on the types of information and services that would be useful or helpful to Hamilton’s veterans and their family members.

The Colonel provided several copies of “The Veterans Guide” which is published by NJDMAVA.  The Guide contains comprehensive information on the various programs, facilities, and entitlements available to New Jersey Veterans through either his Department of Military and Veterans Affairs or through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (formerly the Veterans Administration).  

During his presentation to the Council, Philibosian elaborated upon some of the more important services the state provides to veterans: long term residential care at the three Veterans Memorial Homes (Paramus, Menlo Park (Edison), and Vineland); free interment and perpetual care at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Arneytown; and an extensive veterans outreach program involving the 18 Veterans Services Offices located throughout the state.  NJDMAVA also operates Veterans Haven, the Homeless Veterans Transitional Housing Program at Ancora and has helped construct the memorial honoring New Jersey’s Vietnam Veterans in Holmdel and the memorial honoring Korean War Veterans in Atlantic City.

Colonel Philibosian invited the Mayor to send personnel from the Hamilton Township Veterans Services Office to visit NJDMAVA for a more comprehensive orientation and briefing on the complete range of veterans programs and services and to obtain copies of the many brochures  and publications available.  Besides their military service, the Mayor and Deputy Commissioner had other things in common.  Both Philibosian and Gilmore are attorneys, former municipal prosecutors, and both graduated from Rutgers, The State University.  

Deputy Commissioner Philibosian, a highly decorated combat veteran of Vietnam (Silver Star, Bronze Star with V device (valor), Purple Heart, and Meritorious Service Medal.)  was appointed to his current cabinet position by Governor McGreevey in June of 2002.  Most recently, Colonel Philibosian served for 52 months as the Commander of 1079th U.S. Army Garrison Support Unit at Fort Dix, New Jersey and was directly involved in the planning, support, and validation of units mobilized for both Operation Enduring Freedom and Noble Eagle.