Spring 2009 Edition NJDMAVA Veterans

About NJ Veteran Journal:
The VeteraN Journal is an official publication of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and is intended to serve New Jersey's veterans, their families, friends and concerned individuals and groups. All correspondence should be sent to:

Veteran Journal Editor, NJDMAVA/PA,
PO Box 340,
Trenton, NJ 08625-0340

 
A word from the DCVA
Dear Veterans,

What a year this department and the veterans’ community had. You can use many words to describe 2008. Pick a word, memorable, historic, hectic, fulfilling or successful, and that one word would certainly describe how those 365 days unfolded.

Let me recap the highlights of 2008:

  • World War II Memorial was dedicated on Veterans Day; the memorial on State Street across from the Statehouse is an educational and majestic tribute to the men and women that served to protect our freedoms.
  • Yellow Ribbon Commission processed and approved nearly 200 grant applications before the end of the year.
DCVA's Message
Retired Col. Stephen G. Abel (left), Deputy Commissioner for Veterans Affairs, poses for a photo with Leonard Lomell (right), 2nd Ranger Battalion and the statue of The Lone Soldier at the dedication ceremony for the New Jersey World War II Memorial at Veterans Park on Nov. 11, 2008. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Mark Olsen, NJDMAVA/PA.

  • DMAVA Veteran Service Officers assisted with nearly 6,000 Veterans Administration claims, worth approximately $700 million, nearly a 10 percent increase from 2007.
  • The construction of a 3,161 niche columbarium began at the Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery. The facility remains the busiest state cemetery in the country.
  • Vets across the state supported the Soldiers and families of the 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in the largest deployment of the New Jersey Army National Guard since World War II.

The list for 2009 includes welcoming back the Jersey Guard Soldiers in June and the first meeting of the Commission on Women Veterans.

The department is actively developing plans to reduce expenses. We have already relocated four Veterans Service Offices from leased space to National Guard Amories and are looking at other offices that could be moved to save tax dollars.

We will see the addition at Doyle completed and hopefully will break ground to begin a 37-bed expansion at Veterans Haven, to help additional homeless veterans.

Speaking of Veterans Haven, this is the first year when filing your New Jersey state income tax you can dedicate all or part of a refund to support the efforts to reclaim homeless veterans back as productive members of society.

I look forward to another outstanding year in working with the veterans’ community.

VETERAN STIMULUS PAYMENT

As part of the President’s Stimulus Initiative, anyone receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Benefits or any veteran receiving VA Compensation, regardless of rating, will receive a $250 check. Checks will be issued in late May.