MILITARY & VETERANS AFFAIRS
NEWS RELEASE
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lt Col James Garcia at 609-530-6939/cell 609-847-6093
or Kryn Westhoven at 609-530-6950/cell 609-902-1758
(14 December, 2007)
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MILITARY & VETERANS AFFAIRS
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| IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (14 December, 2007) |
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Media Advisory
Veterans To Receive POW/MIA Medals And Military Awards At Fort Monmouth
Who: Two dozen veterans will be awarded medals by Brig. Gen. Stephen J. Hines, Deputy Commanding General, 42nd Infantry Division, New Jersey Army National Guard, during the American Ex-Prisoners of War quarterly meeting
What: This ceremony will honor eligible veterans with New Jersey military service medals, to include presentation of the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal and the POW/MIA medal
When: Sunday, Dec. 16 at 1:30 p.m.
Where: Gibbs Hall (Community Club at golf course), Tinton Avenue (CR 537), Fort Monmouth, N.J.
Details: The New Jersey POW/MIA medal was approved for issue this year to former prisoners of war or to family members of those listed as missing in action. The N.J. Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) was originally issued in 1858 for those who distinguished themselves in the New Jersey Militia, but was used infrequently until re-authorized by Governor Kean in 1988. After the Spanish American War, the Mexican Border Expedition and again after World War I, the State of New Jersey minted special medals for returning N.J. veterans to honor their service. After World War II, Korea, Vietnam and subsequent combat actions no such medal was available. The State of New Jersey was looking for an appropriate way to honor all of these returning combat veterans and acknowledge the debt the state owed them for their service. The N.J. DSM was then authorized for that purpose. It is New Jersey 's highest military award. Since its re-authorization in 1988, more than 30,000 medals have been awarded to combat veterans from New Jersey.
POW/MIA and DSM Medal Ceremony Recipients
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