National
Guard Day marked by Governor's Proclamation
and the passage of legislation to benefit the
Guard and Reserve.
In
addition to the signing of a proclamation by Governor
James E. McGreevey recognizing National Guard Week
and National Guard Day, Thursday, 15 May 2003,
National Guard Day was marked by the passage of
the following Assembly bills:
Bill No.
|
Sponsors
|
Description
|
A-3061
|
Conners/Conaway
|
Directs The Adjutant General to develop and report
plan to provide home-based and outpatient
health care to NJ veterans.
|
A-3538
|
Wisniewski/Guear
|
Extends military leave benefits for members of the
Reserve and National Guard called to federal
active duty for extended periods of time.
|
A-3564
|
Burzichelli/Stanley
|
Extends eligibility for State veterans' benefits
to veterans of Operations Enduring Freedom
and Iraqi Freedom.
|
A-3565
|
Sires/Wisniewski
|
Establishes a minimum per diem base pay of $100
for members of the National Guard called
to State active duty.
|
A-3566
|
Fisher/Guear
|
Excludes housing and subsistence allowances of National
Guard members on State active duty from
gross income under the gross income tax.
|
A-3567
|
Greenstein/Burzichelli
|
Provides State-paid health care benefits through
SHBP for certain National Guard members
called to State active duty for 30 days
or more.
|
A-3568
|
Van Drew/Greenstein
|
Establishes right of person engaged in military
service for more than 90 days to cancel
vehicle lease without penalty.
|
A-3569
|
Conners/Previte
|
Provides for re-enrollment right or refund of fees
for student who is called to active duty
for certain military operations.
|
A-3570
|
Guear/Van Drew
|
Establishes a program to provide college scholarships
to the spouse and children of those killed
or disabled in Operation Noble Eagle, Operation
Enduring Freedom, or in Operation Iraqi
Freedom.
|
A-3571
|
Smith/Greenstein
|
Prohibits collection of tuition and fees from a
dependent student of military personnel
killed, missing, or permanently disabled
in Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Enduring
Freedom, or in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
|
Memorial Day Ceremony scheduled
for BG William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
The
annual Memorial Day Ceremony at the BG Doyle Veterans
Memorial Cemetery in Arneytown, NJ, will be held
on Saturday, 24 May 2003. Color Guard units representing
various veterans' organizations will lead a march
at 10:30 a.m. The Memorial Service will begin
at 11 a.m.
National Moment of Silence
to be observed on Memorial Day.
In
honor of Americans who died in service to the nation,
the White House Commission is encouraging US citizens
to participate in a 60-second moment of silence
at 3 p.m. local time on Monday, 26 May 2003, the
national observance of Memorial Day. Congress
established the White House Commission on the National
Moment of Remembrance on December 28, 2000. The
Commission's mission is to promote the values of
Memorial Day by acts of remembrance throughout
the year; institutionalize the National Moment
of Remembrance; enhance the understanding of Memorial
Day; and to educate the younger generation in American
History.
The beach at the National
Guard Training Center in Sea Girt, NJ will open
for the season this weekend.
The
beach at the National Guard Training Center in
Sea Girt, New Jersey, will open this Saturday,
24 May 2003. Lifeguards will be on duty weekends
and holidays. Beach passes will be issued to individuals
who possess a Military or DMVA ID card.
Vietnam, Distinguished, and
Meritorious Service Medal Presentation Ceremonies
are scheduled.
26 May
11 a.m.
|
Distinguished Service Medal
|
Township Hall - 66 Main Street
West Orange, NJ
|
29 May
11 a.m.
|
Distinguished & Meritorious
Service Medals
|
Midtown Community School
23rd St. & Avenue
A, Bayonne, NJ
|
5 June
11 a.m. & 1 p.m.
|
Distinguished & Meritorious
Service Medals
|
Atlantic Cape Community College
5100 Black Horse Pike, Mays Landing, NJ
|
10 June
11 a.m.
|
Vietnam Service Medal
|
Lawrenceville Armory
Eggert Crossing Rd., Lawrenceville, NJ
|
25 June
11 a.m.
|
Vietnam Service Medal
|
Cherry Hill Armory
Grove St. & Park Blvd,
Cherry Hill, NJ
|
Lt
Col Alphonse Stephenson will serve as NJ Air
National Guard's Officer/Professional
Coordinator.
NJ
Air National Guard Chaplain, Lt Col Alphonse Stephenson
will be the point of contact for professional candidates
seeking a commissioning opportunity in the NJ Air
National Guard. Lt Col Stephenson will be working
with the Wing staffs across the spectrum of professional
recruiting and accession actions.
Veterans honored at recent
Distinguished Service and Meritorious Service
Medal ceremonies.
On
15 May 2003, BG William Marshall awarded 401 veterans
the Distinguished Service or Meritorious Service
Medal at two ceremonies held at the National Guard
Armory in Teaneck, New Jersey. CPT Allen Mellen
and the 50th Maintenance Support Battalion hosted
the ceremony. On 21 May 2003, BG Thomas Sullivan
awarded the Distinguished Service or Meritorious
Service Medal to 149 veterans at a ceremony held
at the National Guard Armory in Port Murray, New
Jersey. CPT William Morris and the 1st Battalion,
102nd Armor were hosts to the veterans
and their families. Honored guests at this ceremony
included NJ Senator Leonard Lance, NJ Assemblywomen
Alison Littell McHose and Connie Meyers, as well
as Kristi-Victoria Petrides, who represented NJ
Assemblyman Guy Gregg. CW5 (Ret) Bob Wimberly
served as Master of Ceremonies for these presentations.
NJ National Guard ChalleNGe
Youth Program has an opening for a Social Studies
teacher.
The
NJ ChalleNGe Youth Program currently has an employment
opportunity for a traditional Guardsman. ChalleNGe
is looking for a new Social Studies teacher. The
hourly salary would be $11.40, and would rise to
$18.96 for an individual with a Teaching Certificate.
If you are interested or need additional information,
you can contact ChalleNGe at: director@njchallenge.com.
Deadline for George W. Bush
Employer Award Extended.
The
deadline for nominations for the George W. Bush
Award for Outstanding Employer Support of the Air
National Guard has been extended from June 1 to
July 1. Nominations are due to HQs NJANG not later
than 15 June 2003. Additional information regarding
this award can be found in the NEWBREAKS section
of the May issue of National Guard magazine or
at the NGAUS website: www.ngaus.org/whatisngaus/bush.asp.
The New Jersey Monument for
Women Veterans will be dedicated on 6 June 2003.
The
NJ Advisory Committee for Women Veterans will dedicate
their Minutewoman Monument at the Brigadier General
William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery on
Friday, 6 June 2003, at 1 p.m. This monument will
honor all women veterans from the state of New
Jersey who served, are serving, and will serve
in the military. Brigadier General Wilma Vaught,
USAF (Retired), President of the Board of Directors
of the Women in Military Service for America Foundation,
will serve as our keynote speaker. Following the
ceremony, light refreshments will be served.
Congratulations to the 254th RTI.
Congratulations
to the 254th RTI, commanded by COL Watson,
for successfully completing a TRADOC Accreditation
Inspection on 7-9 March 2003. The U.S. Army Armor
School from Ft. Knox, Kentucky conducted the inspection. The
254th RTI demonstrated it is fully capable
of meeting the TRADOC schoolhouse standards in
conducting training for our most valuable asset,
our soldiers. COL Watson and his staff are to
be commended on a job well done.
Air
Force Safety Center issues safety tips for
the "101 Critical Days."
Officials
from the Air Force Safety Center at Kirtland Air
Force Base, New Mexico, announced that the period
between Memorial Day and Labor Day is a period
of increased off-duty injuries caused by increased
activity and risk taking. Safety awareness and
risk management is critical during this time period
because people take advantage of the summer weather
for sports and recreational activities, as well
as hitting the road for vacations. Memorial Day
weekend ranks as one of the deadliest holidays
for alcohol-impaired driving. Driving while impaired,
speeding, and fatigue are the leading contributing
factors in fatal motor vehicle mishaps. Safety
Officials caution us to consider the following
factors when planning summer travel: wear seatbelts;
remain alert and plan rest breaks at frequent intervals;
don't speed - it's better to arrive late than no
arrive at all; don't drink alcohol and drive; and
anticipate the unexpected and be ready to react. Designating
a non-drinking driver this Memorial Day weekend
is one way to help ensure that the holiday is safe
for your friends and loved ones.
Armory
Happenings - Check
to see what's happening at an Armory near you.
24 May
|
Martial Arts Tournament
|
Toms River Armory
|
28 May
|
Snap-On Tool Show
|
Bordentown Armory
|
31 May- 1 June
|
Table Tennis Tournament
|
Westfield Armory
|
20 - 22 June
|
Sports Card and Memorabilia Show
|
Woodbridge Armory
|
28 June
|
Bead Show
|
Cherry Hill Armory
|
28 - 29 June
|
Basketball Tournament
|
Jersey City Armory
|
U.S.
Air Force "Your Guardians
of Freedom" Program News.
"With
public sentiment, nothing can fail. Without it,
nothing can succeed." President Abraham Lincoln's
words are as true today as they were in his own
time, and as America's airmen - active, Guard,
and Reserve - face the great challenges of the
war on terrorism, our success will depend on the
support of the American people. As families, employers,
and communities across the nation share the burdens
of our service, commanders at every level must
cultivate the relationships that form the foundation
of public support for our airmen. Your Guardians
of Freedom is a web-based program designed to help
commanders and their staffs reach out to key audiences
on their bases, in their communities, and beyond
to tell the story of the American airmen tireless
fighting the global war on terrorism. While this
program centers on grassroots, base-level communication,
elements like the Parent and Employer Pins facilitate
public outreach from the very top of the Air Force
chain of command. Details of the program are available
at the website http://www.yourguardiansoffreedom.com.
DMVA
Picnic - 27 June 2003
This
year's DMVA Picnic will be held on Friday, 27 June
2003, at the John F. Mann Recreational Park, Building
6045, Fort Dix, NJ. Cost is $10 for adults and
$5 for children. Reservations must be made by
20 June 2003. Contact your office rep or Marie
Durling at 609-530-4802.
"Operation Tribute to Freedom" Launched.
The
Department of Defense will observe Memorial Day
2003 at bases and deployed locations worldwide
marking the start of "Operation Tribute to Freedom," which
will be a sustained and widespread program of activities
in appreciation for our men and women in uniform
and the families that support them. "Our men and
women in uniform are performing brilliantly and
have sacrificed much in the global war against
terrorism. They have earned the thanks of all
Americans," said Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfield. "In
the coming days, weeks, and months, Americans across
the country will have the opportunity to participate
in nationwide and local efforts to thank returning
servicemembers for defending freedom around the
world," said Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Public Affairs, Victoria Clarke. Operation Tribute
to Freedom information will be available starting
Friday, 23 May, at http://www.defendamerica.mil.
Summer Ozone Season begins
in New Jersey.
The
summer Ozone Action season began on May 20, 2003. This
year, in addition to Ozone Action (red) days, Ozone
Health Watch (orange) days will be issued. On
these days sensitive groups such as children, the
elderly, and those with lung diseases, may experience
adverse health effects, and are advised to take
precautions, such as limiting their time outdoors. The
Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission has
posted additional information on their website, www.dvrpc.org. Click on the red Ozone Action
logo for real-time air quality information and
forecasts for anywhere in New Jersey.
NJ
Vietnam Veterans' Memorial
and Vietnam Era Education Center Announces its
Calendar of Events for the Summer.
26 May
|
11 a.m.
|
Memorial Day Ceremony
|
14 Jun
|
1 p.m.
|
Unknown Soldier (author
lecture/film presentation)
This film, written and directed by John
Hulme, follows a son in his search to get
to know the father he never met, a father
killed in action in the Vietnam War.
|
27 Jul
|
9 a.m.
|
5th Annual Classic Car and Motorcycle
Show
Rain Date: Sunday, 10 August
2003
|
8 Sep
|
9 a.m.
|
Golf Outing Olde York Country Club
|
19 Sep
|
11 a.m.
|
POW/MIA GSM Recognition Day Ceremony
|
21 Sep
|
11 a.m.
|
Rolling Thunder POW/MIA Awareness Motorcycle
Run
|
For
more information about any of these events, please
call the NJ Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Foundation
office at (732) 335-0033.
Getting
to Know New Jersey - The
State Fish.
The
brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, is the
state's official fish, having been so declared
by Chapter 342 of the Laws of 1991. The Legislature
passed Assembly Bill 2608 and Governor James J.
Florio signed it January 8, 1992, at Hopatcong
Middle School, Hopatcong.
· When
William joined the Army, he disliked the phrase "fire
at will."
· Army
doctors are involved in big, military operations.
· An
Army officer is a position that some people shoot
for.
· The
military head is seeking more arms.
· When
do King Arthur's men practice? Joust at night.
Interesting,
but Useless Facts -
J The
average human eats 8 spiders in his/her lifetime
while sleeping.
J There
are 1 million ants for every person in the world.
J Termites
eat through wood two times faster when listening
to rock music.
J If
you keep a goldfish in a dark room, it will eventually
turn white.
J Elephants
sleep only two hours a day