(Left to right) Sgt. Victor Hernandez, Cpl. Paul Lazaro
(who also received a Purple Heart), Staff Sgt. Elias
Rivera and Cpl. Karl Von Der Heyde proudly display
their New Jersey Distinguished Service Medals. On
April 2, the 1-150th General Support Aviation Battalion
and Detachment 1, 642nd Division Aviation Support
Battalion held a Welcome Home and Freedom Salute
Ceremony at the National Guard Armory in West
Trenton. At the Ceremony, 162 Citizen-Soldiers
received New Jersey's highest military award. The
New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal was originally
issued in 1858 for those who had distinguished
themselves in the New Jersey Militia. It was reauthorized in 1988 and is New Jersey's highest
military award.
For more information or application
forms contact your local Veterans Service Officer or
go online to: www.nj.gov/military/veterans/ for a list of the medals and their eligibility
requirements. Those interested in applying should
send a completed application together with copies of
all pertinent information, discharge document award
citation, honorable discharge, etc. to:
NJ Department of Military And Veterans Affairs
Attn: DVS-VBB
PO Box 340
Trenton, NJ 08625-0340