DMVA Salutes its Nursing Staff and Celebrates Nurses Appreciation Day, 6 May 2003.

The three Veterans Memorial Homes celebrated Nurses Appreciation Day with a variety of programs. The Menlo Park facility honored their nursing staff with a luncheon, and presented its nursing staff with tote bags that displayed the Home's logo. "Oscar Day for Nurses" was held at the Vineland Home and featured a red carpet and the Director of Nursing Services dressed in an evening gown. While butlers served hors d'oeuvres, Director's Awards were presented and "Shining Star" pens were distributed. At Paramus a "Nursing Department Celebration Day" was held to honor the Nurses and Nursing Assistants. They shared refreshments, prizes and gifts.

Member of 108^th Air Refueling Wing Earns Distinguished Graduate Award.

SrA Charles P. Mollineaux, 108^th SFS, has been recognized by the Air National Guard as the recipient of the Distinguished Graduate Award for the Air National Guard's in-residence Airman Leadership School. Congratulations!

108^th ARW and the 177^th FW are honored by the Veterans Memorial Home at Vineland.

The Veterans Memorial Home at Vineland held its Annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon on Thursday, 1 May 2003. In a ceremony honoring individuals and groups who volunteer their time at the Vineland Home, the 108^th ARW and the 177^th FW were honored as Group of the Year. Each wing was presented with a plaque, as well as a Proclamation from the State Assembly that was presented by Assemblyman Jeff Van Drew.

DMVA Employees Honored at NJ State Public Service Recognition Awards Ceremony.

At a ceremony held at the Patriots Theater, War Memorial Building, on Friday, 9 May 2003, the following DMVA employees were honored for their exemplary service during the State's Public Service Recognition Awards Ceremony.

Teamwork/Partnership Achievement Award	Homeland Security/Center of Excellence Design & Construction Team that included members from Installations Division, and the 108th and 177th Civil Engineers.
Teamwork/Partnership Achievement Award	Helen Derrig and Annie Kurpiel
Co-Worker Recognition Award	Meredith Spano
Community Service Award	James Goddard, Sr. (posthumously)
Exceptional Service Award	Rita Alston 42nd Division Support Command 57th Troop Command 50th Brigade, 42nd Infantry Division
Longevity Award	Eileen Foster

 

The Results of the 18 April 2003 AGR Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) are complete.

The following soldiers scored a minimum of 90 points in each event (sit ups, push ups, and run):

300 (Max)	COL Frank Carlini SGT Tyrone Joyner SFC James Kapp SFC Yvonne McGuire MAJ John Sheard SFC David Stillwagon		293	SFC Thomas Christian SFC Michael DeMarco
298	MAJ Mark Piterski		292	SGT Victoriano River, Jr. COL Edward Slavin SGT Francisco Valdez
297	SFC Michael Parmigiano		291	LTC Steven Ferrari
296	CW3 Nicholas Brady SGT Chad Weaver		290	SFC Earl Gould SFC Paul Presley
295	MSG Anthony Basile		284	CPL Luis Ruahenao

 

Congratulations to these high achieving soldiers. All are entitled to the Physical Fitness badge. The soldier is entitled to wear the badge as long as they maintain a score of 90 in each event.

Vietnam Veterans honored at two Medal Ceremonies this week.

BG Thomas J. Sullivan presented the NJ Vietnam Service Medal to 133 Atlantic, Cape May, and Cumberland County veterans as part of the "Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans" ceremony held at the Naval Air Station Wildwood in Lower Township, New Jersey. The ceremony was hosted by Naval Air Station Wildwood Museum and was attended by 450 people on Saturday, 3 May 2003.

On Wednesday, 7 May 2003, the annual "NJ Vietnam Veterans Remembrance Day" ceremony at the NJ Vietnam Memorial was preceded by the presentation of 232 NJ Vietnam Service Medals to Monmouth and Ocean County veterans by COL Emil Philibosian. 500 people attended this ceremony.

1-150^th Aviation Battalion Receives a Proclamation from Ewing Township, NJ.

At a ceremony on Sunday, 4 May 2003, LTC Robert Vicci, Battalion Commander, and MAJ Mark Preston, Executive Officer, of the 1^st Battalion, 150^th Aviation (General Support) received a proclamation from Mayor Wendell Pribila of Ewing Township recognizing the Battalion's soldiers and aviators for their participation in military operations abroad. The unit has provided 19 soldiers and pilots to Operation Joint Forge in Bosnia-Herzegovina (September 2001 to April 2002), two aviators to Operation Iraqi Freedom (January 2003 to present), 40 soldiers, pilots, and three UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters to Operation New Horizons in Panama (December 2002 to May 2003), and several soldiers to Operation Enduring Freedom.

US Army Birthday Ball is Scheduled for Saturday, 21 June 2003.

The 228^th Army Birthday Ball will be held at the Hilton Washington & Towers, 1919 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. on Saturday, 21 June 2003. The Ball is open to all Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard, Government civilians, Family Members, Retirees, and Veterans. This year's Ball will include feature performances from The Army Soldiers Show, "Jazz Ambassadors," the "Volunteers," and a special guest. The Army Birthday Ball is a world-class celebration that commemorates the history, lineage, and magnificence of our Nation's Army. Additional information is available at the Army Birthday customer support desk at: (703) 604-2090 and the website at: http://www.army.mil/birthday/228/default.htm.

Identity Theft - It Could Happen to You!

Kimberly Castner-Scott, a DMVA employee in the Division of Veterans Programs and a member of the New Jersey Air National Guard, has produced an informative Power Point presentation about Identity Theft. Mrs. Castner-Scott, an identity theft victim, is an activist in the effort to ensure this personally invasive crime is eliminated. You can view this presentation at http://www.nj.gov/military/admin/ppt/identity_theft2.ppt.

House Passes Legislation Providing Comprehensive Civil Relief to Military Personnel and their Family Members while on Active Duty.

Active duty military personnel and their families would have strengthened and expanded civil and economic protections available to them under legislation approved by the House of Representatives this week. H.R. 100, the Service members Civil Relief Act, sponsored by Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman, Chris Smith (NJ), which rewrites existing law, passed the House by a vote of 425 to 0 and is now headed to the Senate for further action. H.R. 100 blocks attempts by states to double tax military personnel, provides automatic 90-day stays for civil court proceedings, protects families of service members from being evicted due to non-payment of rent while the service member is on active duty, and limits interest to 6 percent on any outstanding loan balances while they remain on active duty. H.R. 100, cosponsored by Congressman Lane Evans (IL) and backed by veterans groups, military associations, and the American Bar Association, will now be referred to the Senate for their consideration and approval.

NJ Army National Guard Federally Recognizes its Newest Technical Service Warrant Officer Candidate.

From SSG/E6 to WOC Francis Lawrence, MOS 09W00, effective 24 April 2003. WOC Lawrence is a traditional drilling guardsman (TDG) in the 50^th Main Support Battalion. He has served in the 63 series career management field (CMF) as a Wheel Vehicle Repairer in West Orange since 1987, and is now assigned as a Unit Maintenance Technician (Light), MOS 915A in the HHD.

NJ Army & Air National Guard and DMVA, Celebrate National Guard Week 11-17 May 2003.

National Guard Week will be celebrated 11-17 May 2003. The focus of activity of the weeklong tribute will culminate on Thursday, May 15 with National Guard Day at the State House campus on West State Street. Static equipment displays will be available for review by members of the NJ National Guard, the public and state legislators from 10 am - 2 pm on the State House Plaza. The official announcement proclaiming National Guard Day and National Guard Week will come from the Commander in Chief, Governor James E. McGreevey via Gubernatorial Proclamation to be signed on May 15th at the State House. Scheduled to participate are: 50^th BDE, 42d DISCOM, 57^th TRP CMD, 254^th REG, T3BL, 108^th ARW, 177^th FW, ESGR, Homeland Security, Det 4 Recruiting and Retention, Det 5 Medical Clinic, Family Support, Counterdrug, NJ Challenge, NJ National Guard Militia Museum, 63^rd Army Band, Veterans Health Services, Veterans Services Offices, Cemeteries and Memorials.

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

15 May  10 a.m. & 1 p.m.	Distinguished & Meritorious Service Medals	National Guard Armory Teaneck, NJ
21 May 11 a.m.	Distinguished & Meritorious Service Medals	National Guard Armory Port Murray, NJ
26 May 10 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

NJ Vietnam Veterans' Memorial and Vietnam Era Education Center Announces Its Calendar of Events for the Month of May.

10 May	1 p.m.	Not Yet at Ease:  Photographs of American's Continuing Engagement with the Vietnam War.  Lecture, slide show, and book signing by author David Chananie, Ph.D.
26 May	11 a.m.	Memorial Day Ceremony
14 June	1 p.m.	Unknown Soldier - Author lecture and film presentation
27 July	9 a.m.	5th Annual Classic Car and Motorcycle Show

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

10 May	Boxing Arts Festival	Jersey City Armory Lawrenceville Armory
17 May	Computer Show	Teaneck Armory
18 May	Emcee's Sports Card & Comics Show	Bordentown Armory
24 May	Martial Arts Tournament	Toms River Armory
31 May	Table Tennis Tournament	Westfield Armory
8 June	Emcee's Sports Card & Comics Show	Bordentown Armory

Defensive Drivers Course (DDC) Now Available Online for Army National Guard Soldiers (ARNG).

National Guard Bureau is sponsoring a new online DDC training program. Accident Avoidance/Defensive Drivers Training is a requirement for all soldiers with a military drivers license and must be updated every four years. The new online course consists of five sessions with a post test and takes 2-4 hours to complete. There is no cost for this training; however, soldiers need to obtain an access code from their unit Training Officer/ NCO to enroll. The point of contact for the NJARNG is the Safety and Occupational Health Office at 609-530-4791. The website is www.safetyserve.com/arng.

Getting to Know New Jersey - the State Folk Dance.

The square dance is the state's official folk dance, so designated by Senate Joint Resolution 19, signed by Governor Thomas H. Kean on January 20, 1983.

Mother's Day Trivia

About 90,000 babies are born to U.S. military families each year. Army families welcome 40 percent of the babies; the Air Force 25 percent; Navy, 24 percent; and Marine Corps, 11 percent. Military babies are born in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and overseas. California, Texas, and Virginia report the highest number of military births annually - more than 7,000 each. Nearly 10 percent of military births occur outside the United States.

Interesting, but Useless Facts -

• Children grow faster in the spring.
• Elephants are capable of swimming 20 miles a day.
• San Francisco's cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments.
• The state of Maine has 62 lighthouses.
• Frogs never drink.