Division of Veterans Services
Stephen G. Abel, Deputy Commissioner
for Veterans Affairs
New Jersey
Monuments and Memorials
The New Jersey World War II Memorial
site dedication and design unveiling was held on
10 November 2004 on the front steps of the State House, directly
across from the
site where the memorial will be built. The design
team is now in the process of completing construction documents,
which should be
ready by the middle of February. Once they are completed,
we can begin the bidding process. Although we are slightly behind
where
we want to be, we are still hoping to dedicate the
memorial late in the fall of 2005. The Memorial Commission has begun
their fund
raising campaign. Fliers are included with this newsletter
so that you can distribute them to your members.
Can you believe this year is the 10th
Anniversary of the opening of the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans
Memorial? To mark this occasion, we will conduct
a ceremony on 7 May 2005 at 11 a.m.
We hope you and your members will be able to join us
for this event.
BG William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial
Cemetery
The expansion and improvement program
continues on track. Section “O” was completed in August
2003, and we have already used more than 20 percent of the 9,752
pre-installed grave liners. The cemetery’s first columbarium
(above ground niches for cremated remains) was dedicated last October
and it provides yet another option for our Veterans and their families.
We broke ground on the cemetery’s new Administrative and Maintenance
Complex this past December. This 6.15 million dollar
facility will greatly improve our operations and
help alleviate the congestion
at the front entrance and chapel on peak workdays.
Veterans Haven
The number of beds has been increased to 54 by converting
two offices to residences. Additionally, we have started a number
of upgrades to the 50 year-old facility. With a 354
thousand dollar
grant from
the VA, we are upgrading the electrical system. This
will allow us to install the 60 air conditioners
donated by the Sons of the
American Legion.
Thanks to a donation from the Military
Fraternity at the College of Medicine and Dentistry, we are
also replacing the windows throughout the building
and using state funds to refinish
the 3rd and 4th floor bathrooms. The Haven is still
in need of vans to replace three high mileage vans
they are now operating.
State Approving Agency
The New Jersey
State Approving Agency recently completed its FY04 contract year
and received
a “Satisfactory” rating
(there is no higher rating) from the Joint Peer Review
Group consisting of VA central office personnel and
National Association of State
Approving Agency (NASAA) representatives.
In particular, the agency was commended
for outreach efforts to eligible persons through transition assistance
briefings and job fairs. Also our continued activity
in support
of NASAA (Charlie
Rowe as East Region Vice President and Lynn Yesalonia
as Vice Chair of the Contract Committee) “was commendable and appreciated” by
Central Office of VA.
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"EVERY
DAY IS VETERANS DAY"
