MILITARY & VETERANS AFFAIRS
NEWS RELEASE
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lt. Col. Jim Garcia at 609-530-6939
(27 March, 2008)
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MILITARY & VETERANS AFFAIRS
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| IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (27 March, 2008) |
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MEDIA MUST CALL THE ABOVE NUMBER and REPORT TO Customer Service Desk
Media Advisory
Veterans To Receive Medals During First Day Of Outreach Program Stop At Voorhees Town Center
WHAT: Awards ceremony for more than three dozen Camden County combat veterans of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm and Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. This begins a three-day visit to the mall of the Veterans Outreach kiosk.
WHO: Retired Army Col. Stephen G. Abel, Deputy Commissioner for Veterans Affairs, New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will present the medals.
WHEN: Tuesday, April 1 at 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: Macy's Court, Voorhees Town Center, Burnt Mill & Somerdale Roads, Voorhees
DETAILS: The New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will staff the kiosk from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on April 1, 2 and 3.
The ‘One Mall a Month' schedule for the Veterans Outreach Program is an effort by the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to talk one-on-one with veterans or their family members about the wide variety of state and federal veterans benefits.
THE STORY: Ten percent of our nation's Veterans receive compensation from the Veterans Administration (VA) for a service-connected disability. Here in New Jersey that number is only eight percent. With 550,000 Veterans in the Garden State , that means that there are more than 10,000 Veterans who should be receiving compensation, but are not.
The Veterans Outreach Program wants to find these Veterans and assist them in filing their claims if they choose to do so. To find out more about this program or your Veteran benefits call 1-888-8NJ-VETS.
The N.J. Distinguished Service Medal (N.J. 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.
In order to be eligible for the Distinguished Service Medal you must meet all the following criteria: ~ currently be a resident of New Jersey ~ have been a resident of New Jersey at the time you entered into military service ~ have been honorably discharged ~ have proof of having served in combat while on active duty during wartime.
Those recipients whose service was recognized by the award of the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Air Medal or equivalent medal will receive a N.J. DSM with an oak leaf cluster.
The N.J. DSM can be awarded posthumously to the next-of-kin of a veteran who meets the criteria.
Anyone interested in applying for the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal should send a written request, e-mail or telephone call, requesting an application form to the following: Mail: NJDMAVA, ATTN: Patricia Richter P.O. Box 340, Trenton , New Jersey 08625-0340 Be sure to include full name, home address and a daytime phone number
E-mail: patricia.richter@njdmava.state.nj.us
Phone: 1-800-624-0508, Press 7
The New Jersey Meritorious Service Medal (N.J. MSM) is being awarded to those combat veterans who were not residents of New Jersey when they entered the military service, but who are current residents of New Jersey and have resided in the state for the previous five years. All other qualifications are the same as for the N.J. DSM. To apply for the N.J. MSM, send the application to the same address as the N.J. DSM.
New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal Recipients List Voorhees Town Center April 1, 2008
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