Division of Veterans Services
Gary R. Englert, Director

World War II Memorial Commission

The World War II Memorial Commission is moving forward, finalizing details in preparation for the start of construction. On August 10, 2005, the task of interviewing artists and evaluating their proposals for statuary began and will continue for the next few months. The Commission still needs to raise $2.5 million through corporate and private donations before ground can be broken. For further information or to make a donation, please call the Director of Veterans Services at 609-530-7049 or visit the website at: http://www.nj.gov/military/veterans/wwii_memorial/

New Jersey Korean War Memorial

Tom McHugh, State Commander of the Korean War Veterans Association, presided July 27, 2005, at a ceremony commemorating the 52nd Anniversary of the signing of the armistice ending the Korean War. Held at Brighton Park, adjacent to the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Atlantic City, the capacity crowd saw twenty veterans awarded the NJ Korean War Commemorative Medal. Colonel Stephen G. Abel, USA (Ret.), the Deputy Commissioner for Veterans Affairs, made the presentations.

New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial

A May 7, 2005 ceremony marked the 10th Anniversary of the dedication of the memorial in Holmdel. The Department supported event featured the Doyle Cemetery’s Joint Color Guard and performances by the 63rd Army Band. Former Governor Christine Todd Whitman and her husband John, who were both instrumental in the memorial’s construction, were in attendance. A full range of educational programs, lectures and seminars remains ongoing at the site ’s Vietnam Era Education Center.

BG William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery

New Jersey’s Official Memorial Day Ceremony was held at the cemetery on Saturday, May 28, 2005, with Acting Governor Richard J. Codey and Major General Glenn K. Rieth among the featured speakers. Troops from both the Boy and Girl Scouts, who numbered nearly 1,000 strong, placed flags on each grave the evening before. Grounds Supervisor Joe Sharp has been instrumental in having the cemetery named as a member of Audubon International’s Cooperative Sanctuary System. Only the fifth cemetery in the nation to receive this designation, the program promotes conservation and the environment. The construction of the $6.15 million Administration and Maintenance Complex is ongoing, with completion scheduled August 2006.

Veterans Haven

Following the retirement of Bob Durante, his long time assistant, Robert Sauselein, was recently named Superintendent at Veterans Haven. The transitional housing facility for homeless veterans has just received a complete upgrade of its electrical system, which will facilitate of the use of new air conditioners, in each residential unit, that were donated by the Sons of the American Legion.

-

“SERVING THOSE WHO SERVED”