MILITARY & VETERANS AFFAIRS
NEWS RELEASE
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kryn P. Westhoven at cell 609-902-1758
(9 October, 2008)
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MILITARY & VETERANS AFFAIRS
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| IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (9 October, 2008) |
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Media Advisory Veterans To Receive Medals During First Day Of Outreach Program Stop At Menlo Park Mall
WHAT/WHO: Medal ceremony for 70 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. Retired Army Brig. Gen. Frank Carlini, Director of Veteran Health Services, New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will present the medals.
WHEN: Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: Menlo Park Mall, Nordstrom's court, Rt. 1, Edison
DETAILS: The New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will staff the kiosk from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on October 14, 15 and 16
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. 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 500,000 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 (NJ 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. 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.
The 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 call 1-888-865-8387, to request an application. The ‘One Mall a Month' Veterans Outreach Program information kiosk will be at the Deptford Mall in the JC Penny Court on November 5, 6 and 7 with a medal ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Immediately following medal ceremony will
be the launch of the campaign and training
The New Jersey Governor's Council on Mental Health Stigma is launching a state-wide Veterans anti-stigma campaign and training for mental health providers. The Council will be launching this campaign in collaboration with the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs PTSD Task Force, and with the participation of the Division of Mental Health Services. The goal of the campaign is to reduce mental health stigma through outreach and raising awareness, and to address the specific mental health needs of Veterans through the accompanying training initiative.
WHEN: Tuesday, Oct. 14; 12 p.m.
New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal List of Recipients Menlo Park Mall - October 14, 2008
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