Division
of Veterans Healthcare Services
Frank R. Carlini, Director
Frank R. Carlini
Brigadier General Frank R. Carlini is a combat veteran
of Vietnam who has spent 28 years in the New Jersey
Army National Guard (NJARNG) and is currently serving as the Deputy
Commander,
Joint Force Headquarters, New Jersey National Guard
at Fort Dix, New Jersey and the Director, Division of Veterans Healthcare
Services
for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
Menlo Park
The Menlo Park facility has undergone some redecorating
in the past few months. Each unit has a fresh new colorful
coat of paint.
Summer is around the corner, and the
Menlo Park Veterans Home has
plenty of outdoor activities and events planned
for the residents. Memorial Day will mark our first large event
for
the season. On
Monday, 30 May 2005, we will honor our fallen veterans
with our Annual Memorial Day Ceremony followed by
a picnic for the residents,
families, and guests. We have many cultural events
planned for our outdoor amphitheater for the residents
and the community such as
the Hellenic Dancers of New Jersey, the Highland
Park Recorder Society, the Spanish Alborada Dancers,
and the Nostalgia Swing Band. On 15
April, the facility hosted its Annual Volunteer
Luncheon as a salute to all those who make Menlo Park such an outstanding
veterans home.
Paramus
The facility received a visit from Congressman Scott
Garrett, New Jersey 5th District, on 11 April. He hosted “A
Tribute to Veterans,” which was performed by students from
East Brook Middle School in Paramus. The performance included singing,
poetry reading, and a moving PowerPoint Presentation. The Annual
Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon was held on 19 April at the Elks
Lodge in Paramus. Brigadier General Frank R. Carlini attended the
luncheon and expressed his gratitude to all of the volunteers that
help us at the home. A local student working on his Eagle Scout
Project presented a proposal to implement a computer room for our
residents. This project will include the donation of computer equipment,
Internet access, and training classes for the residents. Our residents
will soon have the ability to surf the net. On 8 May, our annual
Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea Social was held, and on 27 May,
we will be hosting our annual Memorial Day Ceremony with Brigadier
General Frank R. Carlini as our guest speaker. This event will include
a Memorial Roll Call and a flower presentation in memory of our
residents that have passed. We will also be having a Memorial Day
weekend party with entertainment provided by Fred Guarino.
Vineland
The New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home at Vineland
held its Annual Volunteer Luncheon on 22 April at Merighi’s
Savoy Inn in Vineland with over 200 volunteers in attendance. All
individual volunteers and groups received recognition for their
contribution in enhancing the quality of life for those who reside
at the home. Volunteer of the Year was awarded to Vernon Wolfe.
Mr. Wolfe serves as Vice-Chairman for the home’s Veterans
Advisory Council, and has been an active volunteer serving the needs
of veterans since 1948. Ben and Diane Pilla were recognized with
Project of the Year for their generous donation of $15,000 in memory
of their son, Sgt. Dominick Michael Pilla of the United States Army
who was killed in action in Mogadishu, Somalia on 3 October 1993.
Group of the Year went to Sallie V. Gartner and her students from
the Speech Outreach Community Service Program of D’Ippolito
Intermediate School in Vineland, who have been coming to visit residents
monthly for the past four years, and the Humanitarian Award was
issued to Art Gant, a volunteer at the home for over 20 years.
"EVERY
DAY IS VETERANS DAY"
