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August 22, 2025 |  |
Ready To Serve ★ Proud To Have Served |
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 | Officers of the 102nd Cavalry at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. The 102nd Cavalry of the New Jersey National Guard was called to active duty and assigned to Fort Jackson for training in 1941. The 102nd went on to participate in the Normandy Invasion, landing on D-Day plus two. |
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Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the End of World War II |
This month marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. On Sept. 2, 1945, aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, Japan formally surrendered to Allied forces, bringing history’s most devastating conflict to a close. For the United States and for New Jersey, it was a day of both triumph and solemn remembrance.
The New Jersey National Guard played a vital role in that war. The 44th Infantry Division deployed to Europe in 1944 and fought with distinction across France, Germany, and Austria.
That legacy of service continues today. The 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, earlier this year, returned from another overseas deployment. Eight decades separate these missions, yet the call to duty and the spirit of service remain the same.
The story of World War II is not confined to history books. It still lives among us in our surviving veterans. Now in their 90s and beyond, these men and women embody the resilience and sacrifice of the “Greatest Generation.” Their experiences of combat, of service overseas, and of sacrifice on the home front continue to guide us. It is our responsibility to honor them not only with words, but through action: by living the values they upheld.
Eighty years after the guns fell silent in the Pacific, let us recommit ourselves to carrying forward their legacy. To every living World War II veteran in New Jersey and across the nation: we honor you. Your service is not forgotten. Your example continues to inspire us. And your legacy lives on in the men and women of today’s New Jersey National Guard. |
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| As always, thank you for staying connected to DMAVA.
We invite you to share ideas, events and feedback. Please email our team at outreach@dmava.nj.gov.
Brigadier General Yvonne L. Mays
Adjutant General & Commissioner |
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Brigadier General Yvonne L. MaysThe Adjutant General of New Jersey
and the New Jersey National Guard cordially invites you to attend the
Annual Governor’s Military Review
Sunday, 14 September 2025, at 10:00 am
National Guard Training Center
Camp Drive and Sea Girt Avenue
Parade Field
Sea Girt, New Jersey 08750-0277
Military: Duty Uniform
Civilian: Business Casual |
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DMAVA Calendar |
DMAVA is sponsoring or will participate in the events below. A DMAVA Veterans Service Officer will be present at many of these events. Please check details to confirm. | |
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We add new events to our calendar on a daily basis so please bookmark and check back often. |
| View Full Calendar |
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SPC Derek Quezada
Soldiers with the 50th Chemical Company, 42nd Regional Support Group, New Jersey Army National Guard, gathered to honor the life and service of Specialist Derek Quezada at the National Guard Armory in Somerset, NJ on August 9, 2025.
During a memorial ceremony, SPC Quezada was remembered for his dedication to duty, his commitment to his fellow Soldiers, and his unwavering service to the nation.
The ceremony served as a solemn reminder of the bonds within our National Guard family and the enduring legacy of those who have served with honor. |
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42nd RSG DeploysSoldiers with the 42nd Regional Support Group, New Jersey Army National Guard, deployed from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ on August 11, 2025.
The NJARNG Soldiers will support U.S. Central Command’s Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve. As Task Force Integrator, the 42nd RSG provides and conducts base operating support integrator and headquarters and headquarters battalion functions at designated CJTF-OIR locations by enabling coalition and joint partners to maintain the enduring defeat of Da’esh.
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New Jersey-Republic of Cyprus State Partnership Program enhances inaugural NCO development courseA1C Andrew Relyea | 177th Fighter Wing | August 13, 2025
MOSFILOTI, CYPRUS - Republic of Cyprus National Guard non-commissioned officers from multiple units met with several representatives of the New Jersey National Guard’s 177th Fighter Wing for training sessions designed to enhance leadership development of NCOs within the two forces.
The training sessions, which were held at the Artillery Command of the Cyprus National Guard, Mosfiloti, Cyprus, on July 21-25, 2025, took place as part of the State Partnership Program between the Republic of Cyprus and the State of New Jersey. They also are part of Cypriot’s new NCO development course.
Read Full Story | View Images |
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 | 177th Civil Engineer Squadron trains with NJ State Agencies for World Cup Security
Airman Alex Cadavid | 177th Fighter Wing | August 17, 2025
ATLANTIC CITY AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.J. - Airmen from the 177th Civil Engineer Squadron of the New Jersey Air National Guard participated in a training exercise with the 21st Weapons of Mass Destruction-Civil Support Team (WMD-CST) from the NJ National Guard and NJ State Police Hazmat Response Team at Mercer County Park in Mercer County, NJ, in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, July 31, 2025.
The exercise included briefings, command coordination, safety procedures and joint decision-making tasks in a hazardous environment. The training prepared the units for real-world emergencies whether they involved chemical, biological, or explosive devices.
Read Full Story |
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 | Last Formation
Brig. Gen. Yvonne L. Mays, The Adjutant General of New Jersey, Command Sgt. Maj. Mark A. Leonard, State Command Sergeant Major of the New Jersey Army National Guard, and Chief Master Sgt. Wayne Miller, State Command Chief, officiated a Last Formation ceremony at the National Guard Armory in Bordentown, NJ on August 8, 2025.
The Last Formation ceremony is held to bid farewell to Soldiers, Airmen and their families who are departing or starting a much-deserved retirement from military service.
Congratulations and good luck in your future endeavors!
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NJ Service MedalsThe New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs held a State Medal Ceremony at the Federal Correctional Institution-Fort Dix on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ on August 8, 2025.
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 | NJ Veterans Memorial Home at Menlo Park
The New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home at Menlo Park in Edison, NJ had a blast at their Foam Party recently. It was a BIG HIT!!
Residents enjoyed a day out in the sun getting some fresh air and recalling their playful youth as they went in and out of the party foam laughing and giggling with staff and each other.
It’s always rewarding to be able to put a smile on our Veteran’s faces.
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Get Connected to Resources & Services | The New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs has partnered with Unite Us to connect individuals and families to a wide variety of services and resources.
Unite Us is a coordinated care referral network of health and social service providers. Unite Us can connect our New Jersey military and veteran community to resources to obtain benefits, food assistance, housing, education, transportation, behavioral health services, peer support and more. |
| Learn More / Request Assistance |
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Veteran Homelessness | The mission of Bringing Veterans Home (BVH) is to effectively end veteran homelessness in New Jersey by enhancing existing systems, creating rapid access to housing, and ensuring homelessness becomes rare, brief and non-recurring.
BVH creates a clear path to stable housing for veterans experiencing homelessness through a coordinated network of services and support. |
| Learn More / Refer a Veteran |
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Landmark VA Home Loan Act expands relief for Veteran Homeowners
President Donald Trump has officially signed H.R. 1815, the VA Home Loan Program Reform Act, into law - delivering long-awaited support for Veterans at risk of losing their homes.
The bipartisan legislation modernizes the VA Home Loan program and creates a partial claim option to help Veteran homeowners who have fallen behind on their mortgage payments.
Backed by organizations like the VFW, The American Legion, Mortgage Bankers Association, and Rocket Mortgage, this law is said to be a vital step in protecting Veteran homeownership and preventing foreclosure.
Learn More
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Col. Lola Washington
On August 16, 2025, we celebrated the retirement of Colonel Lola Washington (pictured right), marking the end of an incredible military career and the beginning of a new chapter.
With 36 years of dedication, leadership, and sacrifice, she has left an indelible mark on the mission and on all of us who’ve had the honor to serve alongside her.
Thank you, Col. Washington for your commitment, your mentorship, and your example. We wish you and your family happiness and success in this next chapter of life. You’ll always be part of the 108th Wing family.
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 | SFC Malika Moore-Rinehart
Huge congratulations to Sergeant First Class Malika Moore-Rhinehart, the Marketing NCOIC for the The New Jersey Army National Guard Recruiting Battalion!
SFC Moore-Rinehart recently earned her Bachelor's Degree from the University of Charleston. She was able to accomplish this while serving her state and community.
But she's not stopping there - she's already pursuing her Master's in Organizational Leadership. This dedication to self-improvement and service is truly inspiring.
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 | Civil Air Patrol
On August 15, 2025, Civil Air Patrol - Pennsylvania Wing members from the Braden 807th Composite Squadron visited and toured the 177th Fighter Wing.
They received a mission brief, were shown an F-16C Fighting Falcon fighter jet by an F-16 pilot, learned about Aircrew Flight Equipment, and experienced the Wing's F-16 flying simulators.
Aim high, Civil Air Patrol! |
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National Guard Militia Museum of New JerseyWe would like to give a huge thank you to our Summer 2025 interns at the National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey!
These four students spent over 150 hours each helping us on various projects while honing their skills as they prepare to head back to their respective schools for the Fall semester.
At Lawrenceville, Nyla from Ramapo College of New Jersey spent the majority of her time sorting through our backlog of collections and helping to tag previously unlabeled artifacts. Not a small task at all!
Jaiveer from The College of New Jersey was hard at work helping to standardize our artifact entry form and reformatting our digital inventory to help automate our intake process in the future.
Kaitlyn from University of Michigan combed through our entire social media calendar and fixed all of our egregious grammar errors and also put in a lot of work with artifact spotlight videos.
Meanwhile, at Sea Girt, Joe from Brookdale Community College was a Swiss Army knife for us - he guided tours, deep dived into research inquiries, donned his reenactor gear, created display placards, and basically everything in-between.
We appreciate their hard work as their contributions mean a whole lot to an organization of our size. We wish them luck as they continue to pursue education and careers tied to public history. |
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 | New Jersey Fallen Heroes Memorial
| In Honor of all those from New Jersey who gave their lives in the fight against terrorism during Operation Enduring Freedom & Iraqi Freedom. In humble gratitude, we remember their sacrifice. |
Memorial Inscription "But on the battlefield their feet stood fast, and in an instant at the height of their fortune, they passed away from the scene, not of their fear, but of their glory." ~ Pericles
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General Donald McGowan |
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| August 27, 1932 |
Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt of New York arrived at the National Guard Camp in Sea Girt, where a crowd of over 100,000 enthusiastic people greeted the Democratic candidate. Following a speech in which he promised to end Prohibition, FDR and New Jersey Governor A. Harry Moore reviewed the New Jersey National Guard soldiers at the Camp. | August 29, 1839 |
Josiah Johnson Brown was born in Newark. Brown graduated from Rutgers College in 1860, and, in 1861, enlisted in the Second New Jersey Infantry. He served in that unit through August 17, 1864, when he was captured by Confederates at Winchester, Virginia after being assigned to the Fifteenth New Jersey Infantry after reenlisting. After spending time as a POW at Lynchburg and Danville, Virginia, Brown was exchanged and rejoined his regiment in February 1865. In the postwar era he became a minister, and then an attorney, practicing in Newark. Brown’s 1885 reminiscences of his army service, preserved in the New Jersey Historical Society collections, are a valuable primary source on New Jersey soldier life during the Civil War. When he died on January 20, 1936, Brown was one of the last survivors of his regiment and the oldest living Rutgers graduate.
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August 30, 1899 |
Donald McGowan was born in Orange. McGowan, one of New Jersey’s most notable soldiers, joined the National Guard on graduating from high school, served in the Mexican Border campaign of 1916 and rose from private to sergeant major of the 114th Infantry in World War I at the unheard of age of nineteen. In the postwar era, he attended West Point but left the military academy to be commissioned a lieutenant in the New Jersey National Guard. McGowan rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel and was assistant adjutant general of New Jersey in 1940, when he was promoted to colonel and appointed to command the Guard’s 102nd Cavalry, and led the 102nd ashore at Omaha Beach, Normandy, on June 8, 1944.
Following World War II, McGowan served again as New Jersey’s assistant adjutant general and was promoted to brigadier general in 1947. He commanded the New Jersey National Guard’s 50th Armored Division as a major general from 1948 to 1955, when he was appointed chief of the Army National Guard Bureau and then chief of the entire National Guard Bureau in Washington, a position from which he retired in 1963. General McGowan died on September 24, 1967 in Lawrence Township and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
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Visit Our Friends at JTJ |  |
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We Are Hiring!At the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs we take our work in support of Veterans, Servicemembers and their families very seriously. Whether supporting our Veterans with nursing care, transitional housing, or assisting them in navigating access to their Veteran benefits, the Department provides valuable services and can offer rewarding career opportunities to members of the public.
We also have opportunities in facilities management and program management. In addition, we have job openings for members of our military to serve in AGR and Federal Technician roles.
Subscribe to DMAVA Jobs Bulletin to stay updated on job openings.
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We hope you enjoy receiving our newsletter and find it both educational and engaging. If you have questions about our department, our programs or your benefits, please visit our website at nj.gov/military to get contact information. |
| Contact DMAVA |
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Please email us at outreach@dmava.nj.gov with feedback and comments regarding the newsletter. If you would like to contribute with an item of interest to our subscribers, please email us your proposal.
Visit the DMAVA archives to view previous editions of our newsletter. |
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nj.gov/military NJ Department of Military & Veterans Affairs 101 Eggerts Crossing Road
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
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Disclaimer: The appearance of any non-DMAVA information or hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement of the products or services on the part of the New Jersey Department of Military & Veterans Affairs. |
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