On behalf of the more than 9,000 patriotic and dedicated members of the New Jersey Army and Air National Guard and all the dedicated and professional employees of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, I am pleased to present to you the Department’s Annual Report for 1998.

    The activities, events, services, and milestones detailed in the accompanying document reflect the continuing tradition of public service that has been the hallmark of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs throughout your administration.  Our citizen soldiers never have been involved in a greater number or variety of missions.   We have maintained the highest levels of combat readiness and, at the same time, ventured to a greater degree into missions other than war.  Both as a key component of our national defense capability and as the state militia, the men and women of the New Jersey Army and Air Guard have proven their worth to the people and communities of the Garden State.

    New Jersey’s Veterans also have benefited from the dedication of our Department’s personnel and the programs and services they provide.  We have continued our efforts to provide the best care possible at our three Veterans Memorial Homes and have expanded outreach programs specifically designed to benefit homeless veterans and their families.  We finally dedicated the New Jersey Vietnam Era Education Center; we have made significant progress towards the construction of the New Jersey Korean War Veterans Memorial; and the future promises even better things for New Jersey’s veterans and their eligible dependents. 

    Because of your inspired and enlightened leadership and enthusiastic support, we stand ready to meet the approach of the next millennium and the many new challenges yet to unfold.  We all look forward to working with you, the Legislature, our Congressional delegation, and other agencies of federal and state government in continued service to all the people of the Garden State.
 

Sincerely,
 

Paul J. Glazar
Major General, NJARNG