New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
DMAVA Highlights Archives

14 November 2003

   Volume 2, Number 31

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

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 willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation."

.George Washington

 

Calendar Notes.

Annual Coat Drive

 

will end 19 November 2003.

DMVA Holiday Dinner

Friday, 12 Dec 03

Garden Room

Lawrenceville Armory

Make your reservation NLT 5 Dec 03

 

ChalleNGe Youth Program

Classes will begin in March, 2004. Info is available at:

www.nj.gov/military/challenge

It is the Veteran,

Not the preacher,

Who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the Veteran,

Not the reporter,

Who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the Veteran,

Not the poet,

Who has given us freedom of speech

It is the Veteran,

Not the campus organizer

Who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the Veteran,

Not the lawyer,

Who has given us the right to a fair trail.

It is the Veteran,

Not the politician,

Who has given us the right to vote.

Governor James E. McGreevey observes Veterans Day at the Veterans Memorial Home at Paramus.

Governor James E. McGreevey attended Veterans Day activities at the Veterans Memorial Home at Paramus on November 11, 2003.  The Governor toured the facility, individually spoke to residents, our staff, and visitors.  He addressed the assembled audience in the cafeteria and spoke of the sacrifices Veterans and their families make to ensure all of us continue to enjoy and live in freedom.  He asked all to thank every veteran they encounter.  Also attending the ceremony were local Freeholders, the Mayor of Paramus, along with other dignitaries, residents, veterans groups, families, local chiefs of police, staff, and many community visitors.  All in all, a great visit.

Veterans Day ceremonies held at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

Veterans, service men and women, and family members gathered at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery on Veterans Day to honor those veterans who have served this country over the years.  The cemetery also held its first Flag Retirement ceremony during which the ashes of 2,579 old American flags that were cremated earlier were placed in a container and buried in a vault next to the plaza at the cemetery chapel.   The flag retirement ceremony was a first at the cemetery, but will now become an annual event.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) launches "VA Kids" website.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has launched "VA Kids," a new web page designed to help young people understand what it means to be a veteran.  The site contains areas for students in Kindergarten through Grade 5, for Grades 6 through 12, and for teachers.  VA Kids has information about the VA, Veterans Day, scholarships, student volunteer opportunities, rehabilitative and special events for disable veterans, and links to veteran related sites.  "The title 'veteran' is bestowed by a grateful nation on citizens willing to sacrifice everything to preserve our freedom," says VA Secretary Anthony Principi.  "It is our responsibility to honor these heroes by ensuring that each American generation understands what this prestigious title means."  Visit the website, http://www.va.gov/kids/ for more information.

Distinguished, Meritorious, and Vietnam Service Medal Presentation Ceremonies are scheduled.

 

19 November

11 a.m.

Distinguished Service Medal

National Guard Armory

500 Rahway Ave., Westfield, NJ

17 December

11 a.m.

Distinguished Service Medal

Meritorious Service Medal

National Guard Armory

151 Eggert Crossing Rd., Lawrenceville, NJ

The Department of Defense supports the Great American Smokeout.

There's an old adage that says, "A quitter never wins!"  Dr. David Tornberg, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Clinical and Program Policy, says, "For smokers and smokeless tobacco users, the real winners are those who make the often difficult and life-altering commitment to quit."  All who smoke or use smokeless tobacco products are urged to take the first step to a healthier life by participating in the Great American Smokeout on November 20, 2003.  For active duty members of the military, smoking and tobacco use hurt military readiness.  Eliminating cigarettes and other harmful tobacco products keeps people at their personal best and fit to fight.  According to Dr. Tornberg, "The Military Health System encourages and supports everyone to make a personal commitment to a healthier and tobacco-free life."  For all who quit, the rewards will bring a lifetime of better health.  More information can be found on the following websites:  http://www.cancer.org/ or http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco.

Air National Guard provided free child fingerprinting on Halloween.

NJ Air National Guard members of the 108th Air Refueling Wing hosted a free child fingerprinting event at the Moorestown Mall on Friday, October 31st.  Approximately 60 children received free fingerprinting.  The fingerprinting cards were given to the parent/guardians for safekeeping and are invaluable for identification purposes should a child be reported as missing.  Detective James Dever from the Moorestown Police Department assisted Master Sgt. David Visconi, 108th Civil Engineer Squadron, and Master Sgt. James McCaffery and Senior Airman David Tallman, both from the 108th Maintenance Squadron, during this community event.  The public was invited to stop by the 108th's new recruiting station,  located in the Moorestown Mall, for information about opportunities and benefits available in the New Jersey Air National Guard.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reaches out to former Prisoners of War.

The VA is trying to reach the thousands of former prisoners of war who have never claimed their disability benefits.  Besides regular veterans' benefits, former POWs are also compensated for health conditions presumed to be related to their internment and are exempt from health care co-payments.  Monthly benefits could range from $103 to $2,163, depending on the degree of disability.  Former POWs also would receive free dental treatment if their captivity lasted more than 90 days.  The VA estimates that nearly 40,000 ex-POWs are still alive, about 60 percent of whom receive disability compensation.   But some veterans do not realize that the list of disabling conditions has been expanded and that they may stand to benefit if they served as a POW.  The VA is urging all former POWs to contact the agency to see if they are eligible for these benefits.  If you are a former POW or know someone who is, please ask them to call the VA toll free at 800-827-1000.

November is "National Adoption Awareness Month."

November is "National Adoption Awareness Month" both nationally and in New Jersey.  New Jersey takes great pride in continuing to work with adoptive parents, foster parents, child advocates, lawyers, local judges, and other professionals to give every child in the state a permanent, nurturing home.  Governor James E. McGreevey encourages you to support Adoption Awareness Month, and celebrate adoption by participating in educational programs, community forums, and civic events taking place throughout the month.  More information regarding adoption is available at the http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/adoption/adopt.html, the Department of Human Services website.

NJ Vietnam Veterans' Memorial and Vietnam Era Education Center Announces its Calendar of Events.

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

15 Nov

1 p.m.

Author Lecture by Philip J. Briggs, Ph.D. entitled "Making War and the War Powers Resolution:  Vietnam to the War on Terrorism"

13 Dec

3 p.m.

Author Lana Noone will discuss her book, Global Mom:  Notes From a Pioneer Adoptive Family.

13 Dec

6 p.m.

Holiday Lighting Ceremony will include lighting of the tree and menorah, and a reading on Kwanza.  A memorial service and wreath laying ceremony will follow.

28 Feb 04

1 p.m.

Vietnam-era veteran, Gerald R. Gioglio will discuss his book, Days of Decision:  An Oral History of Conscientious Objectors in the Military During the Vietnam War.

 

The NJ State Library announces new releases.

The New Jersey State Library announced the following new releases are available.  Borrowers may request them by contacting the Governmental Reference office Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., at (609) 292-6220 (voice), (609) 984-7900 (fax), or refdesk@njstatelib.org (e-mail).

Biography

General Ike: a personal reminiscence.

Eisenhower, John S. D.                       The Free Press

Ball of fire: the tumultuous life and comic art of Lucille Ball

Kanfer, Stefan                                    Alfred A. Knopf

Ecology-Environment

Win-win ecology:  how the earth's species can survive in the midst of human enterprise.

Rosenzweig, Michael L.                        Oxford University Press

 

History

The first Americans:  in pursuit of archaeology's greatest mystery.

Adovasio, J. M.                                    Random House

Minority Experience

The Chinese in America:  a narrative history

Chang, Iris                                          Viking Press

 

Today in History.

Today is Friday, November 14th, the 318th day of 2003. There are 47 days left in the year.   On this day.

J          1832, the first streetcar went into operation in New York City.  The vehicle was horse-drawn and had room for 30 people.

J          1851, Herman Melville's novel Moby Dick was first published in the U.S.

J          1943, Ernie Nevers of the St. Louis Cardinals became the first professional football player to score six touchdowns in a single game.

J          1968, Yale University announced it was going co-educational.

J          1969, Apollo 12 blasted off for the moon from Cape Kennedy, Florida.

J          1972, The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above the 1,000 level for the first time.

J          1979, President Carter froze all Iranian assets in the U.S. and U.S. banks abroad in response to the taking f 63 American hostages at the U.S. embassy in Tehran, Iran.

J          1989, The U.S. Navy ordered an unprecedented 48-hour stand-down in the wake of a string of serious accidents.

Armory Happenings - Check to see what's happening at an Armory near you.

21 November

Boxing Match Benefit

Westfield Armory

21-23 November

"Home for the Holidays" Gift Fair

Morristown Armory

22-23 November

Sports Card Show

11 a.m. - Mickey Rivers (NY Yankees) will sign autographs ($10 each)

Bordentown Armory

30 November

Toy Show

Freehold Armory

12-14 December

Craft Show and Sale

Morristown Armory

14 December

Nascar Collectibles Show

Bordentown Armory

26-28 December

Wrestling Tournament

Teaneck Armory

28 December

Sports Card & Comics Show

Bordentown Armory

 

 

 

 

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