Announces appointments to Commission on Women Veterans to further outreach to vets

TRENTON – In praising more than a half-million New Jerseyans for their service in World War II, Governor Jon S. Corzine today dedicated the state’s new World War II Memorial and announced appointments to the state Commission on Women Veterans to better address the needs of New Jersey residents who served in the military.

“We salute you because of the personal courage it required both to leave your jobs and families and to see fellow soldiers perish, sometimes at your feet, on the battlefields of Europe, in the skies over Asia, and on fronts in Africa and the Pacific Rim,” Governor Corzine told the hundreds of World War II veterans in attendance. “We salute you because your courage and fortitude set an example for all of us – and then you came back and built up this country into what it is today.”

In announcing appointments to the 15-member Commission on Women Veterans, Governor Corzine said it was important to review the needs, priorities, programs, and policies relating to women who have served in the military. Areas to be addressed include housing, health care, job training, and outreach.

The commission is located in the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, and will submit a report to the governor six months after organization.

“I am pleased we will have this commission in place to address these critical needs of women who performed double-duty to keep the fabric of this country together – and strong – during its most trying era,” Governor Corzine said.

Ground was broken for the memorial on March 15, 2008 on State Street in Trenton, across from the Statehouse. The $7.6 million memorial is comprised of 3,000 pieces of granite, a one-ton statue of Lady Victory, and a half-ton statue of The Lone Soldier.

“As a proud New Jerseyan, a former Marine, and as a child of that Greatest Generation, I believed that our salute should not just be expressed in words and sentiments alone,” Governor Corzine said. “It had to be solidified in granite and stone for eternity, to show all future generations what New Jersey World War vets did for this state and the country.”

The memorial was designed by sculptor Thomas Jay Warren, who previously sculpted the centerpiece for the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Mourning Soldier and Medal of Honor bas reliefs at the New Jersey Korean War Veterans Memorial in Atlantic City. The DHM Design Firm and Neshaminy Construction Inc. were responsible for construction.

New Jersey is estimated to have contributed more than 560,000 men and women to the armed forces for the war effort, including 16 Medals of Honor recipients. An estimated 85,000 World War II veterans still live in New Jersey.

Three members of the Commission on Women Veterans are ex officio: The Commissioner of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, the Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, and the Director of the Division on Women in the Department of Community Affairs. The 12 appointed by Governor Corzine are:

            Anna Elizabeth Yersevich (Clark, Union)

            Lisa K. Szymanski (Oxford, Warren)

            Anna M. Hoffman (Whitehouse Station, Hunterdon) 

            Virginia Dempsey (Piscataway, Middlesex)

            Marinee Temme (Sicklerville, Camden)

            Mary J. Kelly (Montclair, Essex)

            Jennifer L. Tanforan (Lawrenceville, Mercer)

            Major Yvonne Mays (Medford, Burlington)

            Lt. Col. Teresa B. Acocella (Annandale, Hunterdon)

            Captain Gwyn R. Johnson (Woodbury, Gloucester)

            Major Kimberly Jamison (Hainesport, Burlington)

            Chief Master Sergeant Donna Wertz (New Egypt, Ocean)

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Photos from Governor Corzine's public events are available
in the Governor's Newsroom section on the State of New Jersey web page, http://www.nj.gov/governor/news/