On Saturday morning, November 23, 2002 at 11:00 am, a contingent of soldiers from the New Jersey National Guard’s 50th Brigade, 42nd Infantry Division, led by Brigade Commander, Colonel Steven Hines will visit veterans at the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home in Menlo Park.

The purpose of the visit is to reinforce the relationship between the 50th Brigade, which is headquartered at Fort Dix, New Jersey and the Menlo Park Home. The 50th Brigade “adopted” Menlo Park as part of a state-wide program instituted by Brigadier General Glenn K. Rieth, The Adjutant General of New Jersey, that encourages all Army and Air Guard units within the state to expand their relationships with the three veterans homes in the Garden State operated by the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. (The other two Homes are located in Paramus and Vineland).

The troops will be bearing gifts as well as good wishes when they arrive tomorrow morning. With the help of Staff Sergeant Falls, the unit’s energetic Supply Sergeant, and donations from Dollar Stores, Hallmark, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the 50th Brigade collected a variety of goodies to include videos, toiletries, personnel items, stationery, gloves, books, and other items to help brighten the lives of the residents.

According to Colonel Hines, “This type of activity is extremely important for all our troops. Veterans are the reason all of us enjoy freedom and the best quality of life of any country anywhere. They have paid the price of preserving our democracy and they know what it takes to serve in the uniform we’re now wearing. We can learn from their experience and every citizen of New Jersey, and for that matter, every citizen of these United States has an obligation to demonstrate our collective thanks and appreciation for all they have done for us.”

Many of the residents are themselves former members of the 42nd “Rainbow” Division. After the re-organization of the 50th Armored Division several years ago, the 50th Brigade came under the jurisdiction of the 42nd Infantry Division, which is headquartered in New York State.

Don Marshall, former State Commander of the New Jersey Department, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, helped to organize a major donation of products from Hallmark which will be distributed to the residents of Menlo Park as well as residents of other veterans facilities throughout the state.

Colonel Hines will be presenting two plaques during his visit. One plaque commemorates the new “partnership” between the 50th Brigade and the residents of Menlo Park. The other plaque congratulates Hallmark, The Veterans of Foreign Wars, and other organizations that have so generously supported New Jersey’s veterans.

Christine McNulty, Volunteer Coordinator at the Home and Dr. Mel Friedman, CEO helped to organize the visit.

Many of the troops in the 50th Brigade were mobilized for active duty following the terrorist attacks of September 11th. Following orders from Governor James E. McGreevey and state Adjutant General Brigadier General Glenn K. Rieth, more than 1,700 National Guard troops were detailed to provide additional security at the Hudson River Bridges and tunnels, major airports, and the state’s nuclear facilities. As the first anniversary of September 11th approached, additional numbers of citizen-soldiers of the New Jersey National Guard, or as General Rieth prefers to call them, New Jersey’s Home Town Team were activated to protect key infrastructure throughout the state. And even today, Army and Air National Guard troops are fighting on the front lines of the ongoing war against terrorism and serving the people of our great state and nation.

Any media wishing to cover the event should contact: Christine McNulty at (732) 452-4258.