New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
DMAVA Highlights Archives

16 July 2004
Volume 3, Number 28

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NJ Dept of Military and
Veterans Affairs

BG Glenn K. Rieth
The Adjutant General

Brig Gen Maria Falca-Dodson
Deputy Adjutant General

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Contacting us is easy!

Office of the Assistant Commisioner

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

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Thought for the day…

Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful."

- Joshua J. Marine

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New Jersey Freedom Loans

What is a Freedom Loan?

* Up to $10,000

* Annual APR 6%

* Term: 5 years (no pre-payment penalty)

* Unsecured Loan (no collateral required)

Who is eligible to apply?

NJ residents who are:

* Members of the National Guard or Reserve

* Mobilized for one year or longer to fight in the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) – excluding routine training.

Or

* Served 90 or more consecutive days in the GWOT on federal or state active duty (excluding routing training) and have received orders extending cumulative active duty a year or longer.

How do I apply?

* Contact participating banks. Call or visit your local branch office to obtain an application.

* Guardmembers, Reservists, or family members with Power of Attorney must submit copies of current mobilization orders with the bank’s Freedom Loan application.

Current participants:

- Commerce Bank
1-888-751-9000

- First Morris Bank & Trust
1-888-530-2265

- Fleet
1-800-841-4000

- Manasquan Savings Bank
732-223-4450

- North Jersey Federal Credit Union
1-888-78NJFCU

- Peapack-Gladstone Bank
(908) 719-BANK

- Pennsville National Bank
856-678-6006

- PNC
1-866-PNC-4USA

- Sovereign Bank
1-877-391-6365

- Sun National Bank
1-800-691-7701

Veterans honored at Clifton, New Jersey ceremonies.

On Thursday, 15 July 2004, two ceremonies were held at the Athenia Veterans Post in Clifton, New Jersey honoring New Jersey’s veterans. The morning ceremony, in which 113 veterans were honored with the New Jersey Distinguished Service and Meritorious Service Medal, opened with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Michael C. Bychek, grandson of posthumous honoree Michael Bychek. In the afternoon, 110 veterans were presented with the Korean War Commemorative Medal. LTC Joseph Sarama of the NJ Army National Guard Joint Force Headquarters presented the medals to our veterans at both ceremonies. Ms. Kathy Hymes acted as Mistress of Ceremonies and was assisted by Division of Veterans Programs employees, Michele Johnson, Karen Hansen, and Kellie Forester. Also assisting were SGT Barbara Harbison, DMVA Public Affairs Office, LTC (Ret) Joseph Bucco, State Veteran Service Officer, and Mr. Tom Miller, Passaic County Veterans Service Officer. Ms. Celia Anderson, representing Congressman Bill Pascrell’s Office, and Assemblyman Peter Eagler, NJ Legislative District 34, also attended.

227th Special Operations Flight receives Outstanding review.

An Aircrew Standardization and Evaluation Visit was completed earlier this week at the 227th Special Operations Flight of the New Jersey Air National Guard’s 108th Air Refueling Wing. Colonel Michael Cuniff, Commander of the 108th ARW attended the outbrief and said the visit was “Outstanding.” Three major areas were examined: Standardization and Evaluation, Training, and Aviation Resource Management. Laudatory programs were identified in Standardization and Evaluation Management and Flight Evaluation. Lt Col Rinaldi, Chief, Standardization and Evaluation received an individual Laudatory, and the Standardization and Evaluation Section was identified as Professional Performers. Laudatory Programs were identified in Training – the Training Folder Review Program and Training Folders. Maj John Lening, Chief of Trianing, received an individual Laudatory.

Family Appreciation Day –

The Adjutant General, BG Glenn K. Rieth, invites you and your immediate family to Family Appreciation Day on 21 August 2004 (Rain Date: 22 August) at the National Guard Training Center located on the Atlantic Ocean at Sea Girt, NJ. This day is being set aside to thank the families of all our Airmen and Soliders and DMVA employees. The fun begins at 10 a.m. and the day’s activities will feature amusement rides, games, pony rides, clowns, etc. for the kids, and live performances of Doo Wop, Blues, Jazz, Rap, Big Band, Country, and Spanish music for everyone to enjoy. There will be appearances by Miss America, a USO troupe, WWE wrestlers, and the New Jersey National Guard’s very own 63rd Army Band. With games, great food, and an evening of fireworks planned, you won’t want to miss the fun! So come one and come all and join us for a great day in the sun!

Combined Officer & Enlisted Association Conference scheduled.

Registration information has been mailed for the October 2004 combined Officer & Enlisted Conference to be held at the Clarion Hotel & Convention Center in Atlantic City, NJ, 8-10 October 2004. Please note that a discount has been provided for those paying in full prior to 31 July 2004. Even though paying in full will result in a discount, the normal hotel refund policy will still be available should your plans change unexpectedly. Registration information can be found on the Enlisted Association website at:
http://www.eang-nj.org/conference.html

NJ Naval Militia Joint Command Chaplains honored.

On Monday, 12 July 2004, chaplains from the NJ Naval Militia Joint Command were honored at a luncheon at Fort Dix for their volunteer service to mobilizing units and their families. LCDR Rick Ianniello, MAJ Leon Bell, MAJ Franceso Passamonte, LT Tom Purchase, and LT Joe Farrell received plaques from LTG Joseph R. Inge, the Commanding General of the United States 1st Army. The Chaplain staff at Fort Dix also honored our Naval Militia Chaplains. MG (Ret) Thomas Garrett, CAPT Wayne Girardet, NJNMJC Acting Commander, and MCPO Willie Coley, NJNMJC Command Master Chief also attended the luncheon.

Distinguished Service Cross Awardees.

The United States Army Human Resources Command (AHRC) is searching for soldiers of Jewish American or Hispanic American descent who were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) for action between December 7, 1941 and December 12, 2001.

The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress researchers are requesting anyone who has any information concerning former soldiers who meet the specifications to read the instructions below or visit the bilingual informational website at http://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/HRC/announcement.html or phone 1-866-730-8405 for bilingual directions regarding requirements and the submission of case evidence. Please provide as many of the following items of information as possible:

- Full name and date of birth of the Distinguished Service Cross recipient.

- The DSC recipient’s Service Number.

- The theater and command under which the DSC recipient served.

- The date of the DSC award.

- The General Orders number under which the DSC was granted

- Current contact information for the DSC recipient or contact information for a surviving family member

- Any other information regarding the action that led to the awarding of the DSC.

Veterans Outpatient Clinic will open in Paterson, NJ.

There will be a grand opening ceremony for the Veterans Outpatient Clinic in Paterson, New Jersey on 12 August 2004. The new clinic, located at 275 Getty Avenue, will officially open at 11:00 a.m. Congressman Bill Pascrell will be the guest speaker. Mr. Joseph Bucco, Veteran Service Officer in the Paterson Office, will represent our Department at the clinic’s opening.

National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey Update -

Planning to visit the National Guard Military Museum of NJ at Sea Girt? In addition to being open every weekend and on holidays through October from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Sea Girt Museum is also open on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Housed at the Museum is the Center for U. S. War Veterans’ Oral Histories, a partner of the Library of Congress’s Veterans History Project. We conduct videotaped oral histories of veterans from all wars/conflicts And all branches of service. This project is ongoing, year-round. Interested veterans can complete a form, available in the museum’s foyer, or call Michelle Carrara or Carol Fowler at 609-530-6802.

Scholarship Finder available for military families.

Servicemembers, veterans, and their families can search for millions of dollars in military-related scholarships online. Military.com Scholarship Finder is the definitive guide to military scholarships on the web, including the most comprehensive information presented n a searchable and user-friendly format. Many organizations and educational institutions offer scholarships based on military affinity, but they can be hard to find. Military.com has aggregated this information in one searchable, online database, with detailed descriptions, eligibility criteria, application deadlines, and contact information. Visit their website for additional information.

Gifts from the Homefront.

Since the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) began its “Gifts from the Homefront” program last year, people from all walks of life have rallied around America’s troops by contributing $406,745 toward the purchase of gift certificates designed to lift the morale of deployed troops around the world, said officials at AAFES Headquarters. The certificates, which can be purchased by any individual or civic organization, allow service members to purchase items of necessity and convenience at PX and BX facilities around the world. “Gifts from the Homefront” certificates can be addressed to “any service member” or individual service members. Because the gift certificates can be use for merchandise already stocked at contingency locations, “Gifts from the Homefront” are a safe alternative to traditional care packages that can strain the military mail system and present force protection issues. Those wishing to send a “Gift from the Homefront” can simply log on to the AAFES website or call 877-0770-4438 toll-free to buy gift certificates in $10 or $20 denominations. From there, the “Gift from the Homefront” may be sent to an individual service member designed by the purchaser or distributed to “any service member” through the USO, American Red Cross, Air Force Aid Society, or Fisher House.

Veterans to be honored at upcoming Medal Ceremonies.

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

28 July
- 11 a.m.
Distinguished & Meritorious Service Medals

Hackettstown Armory
901 Willow Grove St., Hackettstown, NJ

18 Aug
- 11 a.m
Korean War Commemorative Medal

Sears Court
Echelon Mall, Voorhees, NJ

Today in History…

Today is Friday, July 16th. It is the 198th day of the year, with 169 days remaining.

1790 - The District of Columbia, or Washington, DC, was established as the permanent seat of the United States Government.

1862 - David G. Farragut became the first rear admiral in the U.S. Navy.

1926 - The first underwater color photographs appeared in National Geographic magazine.

1945 - The United States detonated the first atomic bomb in a test at Alamogordo, NM.

1969 - Apollo 11 blasted off from Cape Kennedy, FL, and began the first manned mission to land on the moon.

1990 - New York City’s Empire State Building catches fire – no fatalities,

1999 – The plane of John F. Kennedy Jr. crashed off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, Ma. His wife, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, and her sister, Lauren Bessette, were also on board the plane. The body of John Kennedy was found on 21 July.

Armory Happenings

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

18 July Sports Card & Comic Collectibles Bordentown Armory
8-12 Aug Wrestling Camp & Tournament Teaneck Armory
22 Aug Sports Card & Comic Collectibles Bordentown Armory
26 Sep Sports Card & Comic Collectibles Bordentown Armory

Interesting things you may not know…

* The Capitol Building in Washington, DC has 365 steps to represent every day of the year.

* Hawaii is the only state with one school district.

* The only continent without native reptiles or snakes is Antarctica.

* Dragonflies have six legs, but cannot walk.

* Only male turkeys gobble.

* The oldest known animal was a tortoise, which lived to be 152 years old.

101 Critical Days of Summer – Kids Rules for Online Safety

School is out and children now have more time to play on the computer. Parents must take responsibility for their child’s computer use to minimize any online potential risks. Share the following rules with your children:

1. I will not give out personal information such as my address, telephone number, parents’ work address/telephone number, or the name and location of my school without my parents’ permission.

2. I will tell my parents right away if I come across any information that makes me feel uncomfortable.

3. I will never agree to get together with someone I “meet” online without first checking with my parents. If my parents agree to the meeting, I will be sure that it is in a public place and bring my mother or father along.

4. I will never send a person my picture or anything else without first checking with my parents.

5. I will not respond to any messages that are mean or in any way make me feel uncomfortable. If I do, I will tell my parents right away so that they can contact the service provider.

6. I will talk with my parents so that we can set up rules for going online. We will decide upon the time of day that I can be online, the length of time I can be online, and appropriate areas for me to visit. I will not access othe3r areas or break these rules without their permission.

7. I will not give out my Internet password to anyone (even my best friends) other than my parents.

8. I will be a good online citizen and not do anything that hurts other people or is against the law.

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.

17 Sep, 11 a.m. - National POW Recognition Day/Gold Star Mothers Day

11 Nov, 11 a.m. - Veterans Day Program

Disney Cruise Line offers Military discount.

Disney Cruise Line is pleased to announce an offer for active military personnel to experience the newest way to vacation with Disney. Choose an enchanted 3, 4, or 7-night cruise filled with spectacular shows, fantastic programs, unique rotation dining, legendary Disney hospitality and an unforgettable adventure in paradise at Disney’s own private island, Castaway Cay. Prices start as low as $379. This is a limited time offer and active military ID card and activation papers are required. Call Disney Cruise Vacations at 800-511-1333. Be sure to ask for the military offer, booking code MIL. Enjoy!

General Tommy R. Franks, will speak at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.

General Tommy R. Franks, who led American and Coalition forces in Afghanistan and Iraq from July 2000 to July 2003, will draw on his own recollections and declassified military records, to offer an insider’s account of the war on terrorism on August 6 at 6:30 p.m. Admission to the Kirby Auditorium is $9 for members and $12 for non-members. Seating is limited. Please call 215-409-6700, visit the box office or website, www.constitutioncenter.org for reservations.

Call today and volunteer to help at a Family Readiness Center near you.

As the New Jersey National Guard deploys soldiers and airmen around the globe, the families that are left behind need our support and assistance. Can we count on your help?

To reach any NJ National Guard Family Assistance Center – Call toll free 888-859-0352

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