.
NJ
Dept of Military and
Veterans Affairs
Maj Gen
Glenn K. Rieth
The Adjutant General
Brig Gen
Maria Falca-Dodson
Deputy Adjutant General
Col
(Ret) Stephen G. Abel
Deputy Commissioner for Veterans Affairs
.
Contacting us is easy!
Office of the Assistant Commisioner
COL (Ret) Michael B. Smith
Mrs. Laura A. Branham
Phone: (609) 530-6987
Fax: (609) 530-7109
Email:
branham@njdmava.state.nj.us
We're
on the Web!
http://www.nj.gov/military
.
Veterans’ Organizations
Contact Information
State Veterans Service
Council
Mr. Richard Clark
RJClark21@msn.com
NJ Advisory Committee for
Women Veterans
Mrs. Anna Hoffman
hoffmanannem@aol.com
BG Willam C. Doyle Cemetery Advisory
Council
Mr. William Rakestraw
warjrnj@msn.com
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New Jersey Freedom Loans
What is a Freedom Loan?
* Up to $10,000
* Annual APR 6%
* Term: 5 years (no pre-payment penalty)
* Unsecured Loan (no collateral required)
Who is eligible to apply?
NJ residents who are:
* Members of the National Guard or Reserve
* Mobilized for one year or longer to fight in the Global
War on Terrorism (GWOT) – excluding routine training.
Or
* Served 90 or more consecutive days in the
GWOT on federal or state active duty (excluding routing training)
and have received orders extending cumulative active duty
a year or longer.
How do I apply?
* Contact participating banks. Call or visit
your local branch office to obtain an application.
* Guardmembers, Reservists, or family members with Power of
Attorney must submit copies of current mobilization orders
with the bank’s Freedom Loan application.
Current participants:
Commerce Bank
1-888-751-9000
Credit
Union of NJ
609-538-4061, ext. 401
First
Morris Bank & Trust
1-888-530-2265
Fleet
1-800-841-4000
Manasquan
Savings Bank
732-223-4450
North
Jersey Federal
Credit Union
1-888-78NJFCU
Peapack-Gladstone
Bank
(908) 719-BANK
Pennsville
National Bank
856-678-6006
PNC
1-866-PNC-4USA
Sovereign
Bank
1-877-391-6365
Sun
National Bank
1-800-691-7701
bout
Veterans’ Assistance is
just a toll-free call away! For information on veterans’ benefits
and entitlements call: 1-888-8NJ-VETS
(1-888-865-8387)
-
Mental
Health Hotline established on Wednesday,
13 April 2005
For information on counseling, clinical assessment,
assistance to family members, and Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD)
call:
1-866-VETS-NJ4
(1-866-838-7654)
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Happy Mother’s
Day
Sunday, 8 May "A mother holds her child’s
hand for a little while, and their hearts forever."
.. Anonymous
-
-
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To
our employees in the field of Education, Thank you for all
of your hard work and best wishes as you celebrate Teachers
Day!
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New
Jersey Facts and Trivia NJ
has the highest population density in the US. An average
1030 people per square mile.
NJ has the highest percent urban
population in the U.S. with 90% of people living in an urban
area.
NJ is the only state where all
of its counties are classified as metropolitan areas.
Cape May
is the oldest seashore resort in the US.
Ft. Dix is named
for MG John Adams Dix, War of 1812 and Civil War veteran,
U.S. Senator, Secretary of the Treasury, Minister
to France, and Governor of New York. |
DMVA employees honored at NJ State Public
Service Recognition Awards Ceremony.
In conjunction with National Public Service Recognition
Week, the 2005 State Employee Recognition Awards Ceremony
was held on Monday, 2 May 2005, at the Trenton War Memorial.
This Department is extremely proud of
Joseph Lech for his selection as the “Best of the Best” for Community
Service. Joseph has volunteered countless hours coordinating
and planning two major “Salute the Troops” events
at the Sovereign Bank Arena for our soldiers and airmen being
deployed overseas and their families. He has also organized
three Pancake Breakfasts to raise money to assist the families
of deployed NJ National Guard personnel. He has had a long
time commitment to supporting the Sunshine Foundation for
children with serious illnesses by making their dreams come
true.
The Department salutes its other “Best of the Best” winner – our
hardworking Veterans Service Officers. The Veterans Service
Officers in DMVA are reaching out to more than 638,000 veterans
residing in the State and ensuring the veterans receive every
assistance and service they are entitled to. The Veterans
Service Officers in the past year have assisted over 48,000
veterans and as a result of their efforts, they have retrieved
more than $125 million in the form of disability claims,
home loans, educational and tuition benefits, health care
enrollment, transportation, psychological counseling, long
term care, catastrophic and blind service connected entitlements.
Our Veterans Service Officers are: Bruce Stanley, Charles
Piscopo, David Martin, Donald McNamara, Edna Jones, Guy Wiener,
John Valenta, Joseph Battito, Joseph C. Bucco, Joseph Salzano,
Moise Abraham, Monica Banca, Robert Del Percio, Robert Guffanti,
Robert Maulano, William Burrows, and William McDonnell.
Congratulations to our “Best of the Best” winners
and to the following employees honored for their dedication
and contributions to State government:
Longevity Award
Earl Mints – 36 years of State Service, Vineland
Co-Worker Recognition Award
Claudia Smith, Nursing Supervisor, Vineland
Community Service Award
Kelli Gigliotti, RN, Challenge Program
Joseph Lech, Special Assistant to the Assistant
Commissioner
Co-worker Recognition Award
Carmen Cacabelos, Veterans Home at Paramus
William Hutchinson,
Installations Division
Cindy Leese, Human Resources Division
Customer Service Excellence
Leigh Pottle, Veterans Memorial Home at Vineland
DMVA’s
Veterans Service Officers
Exceptional Service Award
Laura Branham, Office of the Assistant Commissioner
Elizabeth
DiStefano, Office of Government Relations
Frederick Joseph
Geisert, BG Doyle Veterans Cemetery
William Tomlin, LPN, Veterans
Memorial Home at Vineland
Teamwork/Partnership Award
Human Resources Division (Central Office)
Peter Dovalis, Cindy
Leese, Linda Mitchell, Loreta Sepulveda, Paul Serdiuk,
Patricia Smith, Irene Sokolowski, Catherine
Vasil

New Scholarship Announced – Nicholas
A. Caruso Memorial Scholarship.
At the request of COL and Mrs. Frank Caruso,
Commander, 50th Brigade, 42d Infantry Division, NJARNG, the
Nicholas A. Caruso
Memorial Scholarship has been created. Their son lost his life
in October of 2004 as a result of a motor vehicle accident.
In his memory, his parents have established a $1,000 annual
memorial scholarship to be awarded by both the National Guard
Association of New Jersey and the Enlisted Association of the
National Guard of New Jersey for the next five years. Each
Association’s Scholarship Committee will make the selection
utilizing existing criteria. The Caruso’s will make the
announcement and presentation at an appropriate event.
Both Associations send their heartfelt thanks to the Caruso
family for their generosity and pledge of support for continuing
education of their members and dependents.

National Guard Association of NJ schedules Annual
Business Meeting.
The National Guard Association of New Jersey will conduct
its annual Business Meeting on Saturday, 7 May 2005, at the
Lawrenceville Armory, Eggert Crossing Road, Lawrenceville,
New Jersey. Sign in is at 0730, and the meeting will start
at 0800 hrs. Members are urged to contact their unit’s
Executive Council representatives for more information.

Captain Kendra Mochel, 108th Medical Group,
is honored for her work.
Captain Kendra Mochel of the 108th Medical Group received
two awards recently for her excellent work. She received a
commendation from the National Guard Association of New Jersey
for the Outstanding Company Grade Officer Award. Captain Mochel’s
second award was the Major General Francis R. Gerard Trophy
for her actions during a 130-day deployment in support of Operation
Enduring Freedom to Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. She was
involved in many missions transporting critical patients to
and from hospitals and critical care facilities in the region.
Capt Mochel was also instrumental in patient care during longer
medevac flights of critical care patients to Kuwait and Germany.
She also had medical equipment and pharmacy responsibilities
between missions. Congratulations, Captain Mochel, for a job
well done!

Monmouth County veterans honored at Medal Ceremony.
On Thursday, April 28, 2005, Brigadier General Maria Falca-Dodson,
Deputy Adjutant General, presented 140 Vietnam Service Medals
and 54 Distinguished and Meritorious Service Medals to deserving
veterans of Monmouth County during ceremonies held at the National
Guard Training Center in Sea Girt, New Jersey. Employees of
the Division of Veterans Programs assisted with the ceremony.

NJ National Guard’s ChalleNGe
Program recognized for its volunteer efforts.
The ChalleNGe Program was recently recognized at the Fort
Dix Army Community Service Office luncheon on 27 April 2005.
COL (Ret) Kenneth J. Prossick, Program Director, was presented
with Certificates of Appreciation from Fort Dix for the outstanding
volunteer efforts of the ChalleNGe cadets and staff from April
2004 – March 2005. These hardworking young men and women
were recognized for their dedication and commitment to volunteer
services performed on Fort Dix in such activities as Family
Fun Fest and shoveling out vital locations such as the Red
Cross, Wurman Hall, the Post Library and the Post Chapel, as
well as many other sites that were snowbound on Fort Dix. Thanks
and congratulations go out to all concerned!

Big changes for Paramus Veterans Home telephone
system.
The NJ Veterans Memorial Home at Paramus is leading the way
in DMVA with the successful installation and deployment of
a new state of the art Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP)
Telecommunications system. The new telephone system went active
this past week and offers significant improvements in service
and features to our users.
Please take special note, as part of
the telephone system deployment, effective May 5, 2005, the
Paramus
Veterans Memorial
Home’s new main telephone number is: 201-634-8200.
Please consult the DMVA telephone directory, dhqfl2/share/teldir
for a complete listing of new individual phone numbers at the
Paramus facility. If necessary, you may contact the main number
for general information and specific departmental listings.
Any questions concerning the new system or telephone numbers
can be addressed to Mrs. Sophie Guzikowski at 609-530-6925.

50th Personnel Services Battalion conducts Change
of Command.
The 50th Personnel Services Battalion conducted a Change of
Command ceremony on Sunday, 1 May 2005. LTC Robert Niedt relinquished
command to LTC Walter L. Alvarado. COL John DiNapoli, Commander,
57th Troop Command, was the reviewing officer. This time-honored
tradition was conducted at the Lawrenceville Armory and was
attended MG Glenn K. Rieth, The Adjutant General, distinguished
guests, numerous soldiers of the New Jersey Army National Guard,
as well as members of LTC Alvarado’s and LTC Niedt’s
families. Meritorious Service Medals were presented to LTC
Niedt, SGM Cora Byrd, and SFC Sue Albano in recognition of
their outstanding contributions and performance. During her
tenure as Commander, LTC Niedt oversaw the deployment of the
150th AG Detachment, 150th Finance Detachment, and the 350th
Finance Detachment. One of the highlights of the ceremony was
the presence of Mr. Wilson Narvaez, Major of Chunchi, Ecuador
(LTC Alvarado’s hometown) w2ho had traveled to accompany
LTC Alvarado during this festive occasion.

NJ Department of Labor teams up with Teaneck
Family Assistance Center.
The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
is teaming up with the Teaneck Family Assistance Center to
provide all soldiers returning from deployment with the necessary
information and tools to easily re-integrate into society.
The Re-employment Opportunities briefing given by MSG (Ret)
John Bautz will be held at the Teaneck Armory every Wednesday
at 10 a.m. and again at 2 p.m.
If you have any questions regarding this briefing, contact
MSG (Ret) Bautz at 201-996-8950 or email john.bautz@dol.state.nj.us.

Steve Braun Baseball Camp available FREE for
children of deployed soldiers and airmen.
Former Major League Baseball player and retired Trenton Thunder
coach, Steve Braun, has offered to conduct a summer baseball
camp on Saturday and Sunday, 16-17 July 2005. The two-day camp
is provide free to children of New Jersey National Guard soldiers
or airmen who are, or have been, deployed overseas during the
Global War on Terrorism. Boys and girls, ages 7-16, are invited
to apply through their respective Family Assistance Centers
or by calling 1-888-859-0352. The first day of the camp will
kick off at 8:30 a.m. (Children should arrive at 8:00 a.m.)
with a short parade to the playing fields adjacent to the Lawrence
Township Intermediate School. Parents should park in the school
parking lot. The day will include batting, base running, and
field position training by Steve Braun and his professional
coaching staff. On Saturday, campers will have a hot dog and
soda picnic for lunch and the first day of camp will end around
4 p.m. On Sunday, the camp will begin at 9:00 a.m. and end
at 11:30 a.m. At 12 noon, on buses donated by the Stires Bus
Company, the campers will travel to Waterfront Park and receive
free admission to the Trenton Thunder game (parents are invited
to attend the game at their own expense). Campers should bring
money for food or snacks at the game on Sunday. Buses will
return the campers to the playing fields at the conclusion
of the game for pick-up and transport back home. So get ready
to have some good old-fashioned fun playing baseball this summer
and have the chance to train with the pros. “Batter Up!”

Teaneck Armory will dedicate its Children’s
Room, Meeting Room & Food Pantry.
United States Senator Jon S. Corzine and Major General & Mrs.
Glenn K. Rieth will be honored guests on 7 May 2005, and will
participate in the dedication of the Teaneck Armory’s
Children’s Room, Meeting Room and Food Pantry. The dedication
ceremony will begin at 9:30 a.m. and everyone is invited to
attend.

Global War on Terrorism Memorial Dedication
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The New Jersey National Guard will dedicate the Global War
on Terrorism Memorial on Saturday, 28 May 2005, at 2 p.m. The
ceremony will honor the fallen heroes of the New Jersey National
Guard, and will take place at the NJ Department of Military
and Veterans Affairs, 101 Eggert Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648.
Refreshments will be served following the ceremony! Uniform:
Army – Class A, Air Force – Service Dress.

Veterans Service Office now open at
Ft. Monmouth’s
Community Based Outreach Clinic (CBOC).
Every Thursday, our Department’s Asbury Park Veterans
Service Officer, Donald McNamara, will work in a new office
located at the Ft. Monmouth Community Based Outreach Clinic.
Mr. McNamara will be available to assist veterans and their
families in processing claims for veterans’ benefits
from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. The new office’s phone
number is 732-532-4465.

New Jersey Congressmen Frank Lobiondo and Jim
Saxton tour the 177th Fighter Wing.
On April 29, 2005, Congressman Frank Lobiondo (NJ-2) and Congressman
Jim Saxton (NJ-4) joined MG Glenn K. Rieth, The Adjutant General,
Brig Gen Eugene Chojnacki, Commander, NJ Air National Guard,
and Col Brian Webster, Commander, 177th Fighter Wing, to tour
the 177th Fighter Wing. Their mission was twofold. They received
an update on the work and mission of the 177th Fighter Wing’s
Jersey Devils, and praised them for their service to the Nation.
The 177th Fighter Wing is one of several 24-hour alert sites
under the Northern Command (NORTHCOM). Their primary mission
is to protect U.S. airspace along the Atlantic Coast from New
York to Washington. Both Congressmen serve on the House Armed
Services Committee and have worked diligently to ensure that
the 177th Fighter Wing remains viable and relevant in the critical
mission of protecting the Eastern Seaboard.

Part-time opportunities in Military Funeral
Honors Program.
The New Jersey Army National Guard Military Funeral Honors
Program has several part-time employment opportunities immediately
available across the state for TDGs and Technicians. Earn one
day’s base pay and one retirement point for a few hours
work providing Military Funeral Honors for our Veterans. If
you are interested, please contact SFC Raymond Denson, Military
Funeral Honors Coordinator, at 609-530-7090 or by e-mail at
Raymond.Denson@nj.ngb.army.mil.

7th Annual Unity Day
“Come Share Your Heritage with Us.” On Thursday,
9 June 2005, the NJ Department of Military and Veterans Affairs,
Joint Force Headquarters will hold it’s 7th Annual Unity
Day at Building 3650, Fort Dix, NJ. This event is held to enhance
cross-cultural awareness and promote harmony among all members
of the New Jersey National Guard, and to recognize the contributions
of women and minorities. This combined effort of Army and Air,
State and Federal, community members and members of both Team
McGuire and the Fort Dix Post contribute to the different ethnic
and Special Emphasis groups being represented. If you are interested
in participating by putting up a display, please contact Kathey
McCready, State Equal Employment Manager at 609-562-0854.

Upcoming Job Fairs
Job Fair, Morristown, NJ – The NJ Army National Guard,
3rd 112 FA presents Support the Troops Job Fair on May 12,
2005. The Job Fair is open to the public from 0900-1500 (9a.m.-3
p.m.) and will be held at 430 Western Avenue, Morristown, NJ
07960. Points of contacts are: SSG Calvin Davis at (973) 538-4117
or by email at Calvin.B.Davis@us.army.mil or SSG Johnie Thomas
at (973) 631-6280, email at JT.Thomas@us.army.mil.

Veterans to be honored at upcoming Medal Ceremonies.
The
following ceremonies have been scheduled to honor our State’s
veterans.
19 May 05 |
11:00 am |
Korean Service Medal |
Edison Elks Lodge
375 Old Post Road
Edison, NJ 08818 |
|
1:00 pm |
Korean Service Medal |
- - |
9 Jun 05 |
11:00 am |
Distinguished & Meritorious Service Medal |
Morristown
Armory
430 Jockey Hallow Road
Morristown, NJ 07960 |
|
1:00 pm |
Korean Service Medal |
-
- |
30 Jun 05 |
11:00 am |
Distinguished & Meritorious Service Medal |
Toms River Elks
600 Washington St
Toms River, NJ |
|
1:00 pm |
Vietnam Service Medal |

Support the Troops
Here are some of the activities and fundraisers
planned in support of our deployed troops and their families:
Mother’s Day cards are
being made available to deployed troops free of charge. Cardstore.com,
in conjunction with the
Department of Defense’s America Supports You campaign,
will provide forward-deployed troops in Afghanistan and Iraq
the opportunity to send their Mom a Mother’s Day card
at no cost. Just by logging into the company’s website
and taking a few simple steps, starting with picking a card,
service members in the two countries can send their mother
s a traditional paper greeting card from wherever they may
be this Mother’s Day. Servicemembers choose a card, write
a message, and then tell Cardstore.com when the card should
be mailed. The company will print a “high-quality greeting
card” and send it through the U.S. Postal Service. A
special code is needed to access this offer on the company’s
website. Servicemembers serving abroad can find the code in
three ads that will appear in Middle East editions of the Stars & Stripes
newspaper beginning April 22. Orders can be placed from April
22 to May 8, Mother’s Day. To Guarantee on-time delivery,
orders need to be placed no later than May 2nd.
Packing Day at Somerset Armory – Sunday,
15 May 2005. If you are preparing a package for shipment
to a soldier, mark
15 May on your calendar. There will be a Packing Day at the
Somerset Armory. All you have to do is get the things together
that you will be sending your soldier and call the Armory at
888-859-0352 to ensure your name is on the reservation list.
Bowling for the Troops – Sunday, 22 May 2005 – Colonial
Lanes in Lawrenceville. The American Legion Post 414, Sons
of the American Legion, and Colonial Lanes will host “Bowling
for the Troops” on Sunday, 22 May 2005, from noon until
5 p.m. at Colonial Lanes, 2420 Brunswick Avenue (US Rt. 1),
Lawrenceville, NJ. Interested in bowlers will be asked to sign-up
sponsors ahead of time to make pledges. All proceeds will benefit
the National Guard Family Assistance Program.
West Orange to honor and support NJ Air National Guard
troops – 30
May 2005. The Township of West Orange is holding a luncheon
fundraiser to support the NJ Air National Guard Family Readiness
Council, in conjunction with its annual Memorial Day Ceremony,
Monday, May 30, 2005. Since 1999, the municipality’s
annual event has included the awarding of the New Jersey Distinguished
Service Medal to qualifying local combat veterans. To honor
this year’s twenty recipients, and in support of our
troops in the field, a luncheon will follow. Tickets are $50
per person and may be obtained by sending your check (payable
to VFW Post 376) to the Mayor’s Office, 66 Main Street,
West Orange, NJ 07052. Additional information may be obtained
by calling 973-325-4205.
Mealey’s Furniture to donate
3 rooms of new future to a needy military member on Memorial
Day. Do you know someone
who is or has served Active Duty in the US military and is
now in need? Mealey’s would like to thank them for their
service by giving them three complete rooms of furniture. Entry
forms can be found in any of Mealey’s three stores or
online at www.mealeysfurniture.com. All nominations will be
reviewed and selection will be made on June 30th.
Sign up for a chance to send your solider Dunkin Donuts
coffee. Dunkin Donuts will send a case of free coffee to your
soldier if he/she is among the 50 selected in a monthly lottery.
Just go to dunkindonuts.com,
click on “About Us,” click
on “Contact Us,” click on “Instore Visits,” fill
out the form, in the comments section put the soldier’s
rank, name and APO address, and say that you would like to
send your soldier coffee. Then click “Submit.” You
can mail a request to Dunkin Brands, 130 Royall Street, Camton,
MA 02021, Attention Customer Care or request the coffee by
phone at 781-737-3000 (Customer Relations).
Operation Uplink. Visit http://www.operationuplink.org/request.cfm to request free phone cards for active duty military personnel
deployed away from home. At this site you can fill out a request
for a phone card to be sent to yourself or a loved one. One
card per request per servicemember will be honored during a
60-day period.
Gifts from the Homefront. The “Gifts from the Homefront” program
was begun last year by the Army and Air Force and enables people
from all walks of life to rally around America’s troops
by purchasing gift certificates designed to lift the morale
of deployed troops around the world. The certificates, which
can be purchased by any individual or civic organization, allow
service members to purchase items of necessity and convenience
at PX and BX facilities around the world. “Gifts from
the Homefront” certificates can be addressed to “any
service member” or individual service members. Because
the gift certificates can be use for merchandise already stocked
at contingency locations, “Gifts from the Homefront” are
a safe alternative to traditional care packages that can strain
the military mail system and present force protection issues.
Those wishing to send a “Gift from the Homefront” can
simply log on to the AAFES website, www.aafes.com,
or call 877-770-4438 toll-free to buy gift certificates in
$10 or $20
denominations. From there, the “Gift from the Homefront” may
be sent toan individual service member designed by the purchaser
or distributed to “any service member” through
the USO, American Red Cross, Air Force Aid Society, or Fisher
House.
Operation Mail Call. Operation Mail call is a program initiated
by New Jersey Assemblymen Jack Conners and Herb Conaway that
enables citizens to donate postage stamps for use by our troops
and their families. Over 23,000 stamps have been donated to
our National Guard soldiers and airmen and Family Readiness
Programs. If you would like to participate, please mail or
drop off your postage stamps to the 7th Legislative District
Office, Delran Professional Center, 8008 Route 130 North, Suite
125, Delran, NJ 08075.
American Hero Band -
The American Hero Band is a free wristband worn by Americans
to demonstrate their support of the “Defenders
of Freedom” who are Army National Guard soldiers deployed
across the globe. Engraved on the metallic wristband are the
words IN HONOR OF AN AMERICAN HERO SERVING IN THE ARMY NATIONAL
GUARD. These words are flanked left by the Army National Guard
logo and right by the American flag. There is also an inscription
of the National Guard website, http://www.virtualarmory.com and a unique serial number engraved inside this commemorative
wristband. If you are interested in getting The American Hero
Band, go to http://www.virtualarmory.com and click on the American
Hero Band banner.

OCS Class 48 will host 1st Annual SGT Nutter Benefit 5K Run.
Officer Candidates from OCS Class 48 are
hosting the first annual SGT Nutter Benefit 5K Run on May
14, 2005 at the National
Guard Training Center in Sea Girt, NJ. Proceeds from the run
will go to the SGT Sam Nutter’s Children Fund. For more
information visit website: www.nutterrun.org.
To make a donation: Checks should be made payable and mailed
to: SGT Sam Nutter’s
Children Fund, Attention: Anthony Salvani, #121, 4057 Highway
9, Howell, NJ 07731. If you have any questions regarding this
even, e-mail Janeann.Robinson@nj.ngb.army.mil.

Sandy Cove offers
a free stay for our military members & families
at Operation Oasis on Chesapeake Bay.
Operation Oasis is an outreach program developed to offer
a time of rest and renewal to military personnel involved in
Operation Iraqi Freedom. Located in North East, Maryland, at
the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay, Operation Oasis offers
a free 3-day, 2-night time of rest and relaxation. It is a
thank you to those who seek to secure and sustain our freedom.
Simply contact Carol Lee Lynch by email at c.lynch@sandycove.org or by phone at 800-287-4843 for additional information. You
can also visit the website www.sandycove.org for a more detailed
description of the facility.

Armory Happenings – Listed
below are events taking place at your local armory.
Open House – Toms River Armory -
An Open House is scheduled at the Toms River Armory on Saturday,
June 18, 2005, from 11
a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be historical displays from the Revolutionary
Wary to Operation Iraqi Freedom. For the children, there will
be Hummer rides, camouflage face painting, paintball targets
and a balloon grenade toss.
The purpose of the Open House is to inform
the public about the Toms River Armory and let them know
it is available for
rent. Additionally, the open house will provide the NJ National
Guard recruiters a change to support The Adjutant General’s
policy on “Strength Management.”
29
Apr 05 |
Auction |
Cherry
Hill Armory |
|
- |
- |
15
May 05 |
Sports
Card and Comics Show |
Bordentown
Armory |
|
- |
- |
12
Jun 05 |
Sports
Card and Comics Show |
Bordentown
Armory |
|
|
|
18 Jun 05 |
Open House |
Toms River Armory |
|
|
|

Fitness Corner – Ernie Razzano,
Certified Fitness Trainer
New Food Pyramid
The U.S. Government has released
an updated “food pyramid” for
the first time since 1992, and it is a welcome improvement
from the original.
The most dramatic change is the recommendation
of 60 minutes a day of physical activity to prevent weight
gain. For sustaining
weight loss, the government is encouraging 60 to 90 minutes
a day of physical activity!! Compared to the original pyramid,
which considered “gardening” and “walking
up stairs” to be “exercise,” this is a welcome
and important change.
The food recommendations are broken down
in to Grains, Vegetables, Fruits, Milk, Meat and Beans.
A
calculation is available based on age, sex, and activity
level to give you a general starting point for calories. It
isn’t as precise as, for example, my performance nutrition
recommendations based on BMR calculations, but it is in the
ballpark and, again, a good starting point.
Overall, after
reviewing the new pyramid, I am impressed. It can be a
good STARTING POINT for the beginner client just
learning about balancing their diet and exercise needs. You
can learn ore about it by visiting www.mypyramid.gov.

NJ Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial and Vietnam
Era Educational Center’s upcoming event schedule.
On
Saturday, 14 May 2005, at 1:00 p.m., the NJ Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Foundation will host an author
lecture by Vietnam Veteran Paul Drew about his book, Jenny
4, a novel about a GI’s experience in the Vietnam War.
Paul Drew, of Spring Lake Heights, NJ, was drafted into the
Army at age 19, and from 1966 to 1967 he served as a combat
infantry squad leader in Vietnam. Jenny 4 is the story of a
Vietnam War draftee who, amid the horrors, the atrocities,
and the obscenity of war, discovers basic human goodness.” Lecture
attendees are asked to RSVP to 732-335-0033. A donation of
$5 per person is suggested.
07
May 05
11:00 am |
NJ
Vietnam Veterans Remembrance Day ceremony and celebration
of the 10th Anniversary of the NJ Vietnam Veterans' Memorial. |
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14
May 05
1:00 pm |
Jenny 4 (A novel about a GI's experience in Vietnam)
- Author lecture by Vietnam Veteran Paul Drew. |
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30
May 05
11:00 am |
Memorial
Day Ceremony |
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- |
11 Jun 05
1:00 pm |
On the River (memoir of an American advisor to South
Vietnamese Rangers) - Author lecture by Vietnam Veteran
George L. Athas |
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18 Jun 05
10:00 am to
4:00 pm |
Military Vehicle Display |
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For more information
about any of these events, please call the NJ Vietnam Veterans
Memorial Foundation office at (732) 335-0033.
The Vietnam Era
Educational Center is open Tuesday through
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Regular admission is free for
veterans and active duty military personnel. Regular adult
admission
is $4; student and senior citizen admission is $2; and children
under 10 are admitted free. The Center is located adjacent
to the NJ Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial off the Garden
State Parkway at Exit 116.

Today in History
Today is Friday the 6th of May 2005. It is
the 126th day of the year with 239 days remaining.
0648 BC – Earliest
total solar eclipse; chronicled by the Greeks.
1789 – The
first U.S. Congress began regular sessions at the Federal
Hall in New York City.
1830 – Joseph Smith and five
others organized the Mormon Church in Seneca, NY.
1889 – George
Eastman places Kodak Camera on sale for the first time.
1896 – The
first modern Olympic Games began in Athens, Greece.
1909 – North Pole reached by Americans Robert Peary & Matthew
Henson.
1930 – Hostess Twinkies invented by bakery
executive James Dewar.
1938 – Teflon invented by Roy J.
Plunkett.
1957 – Trolley cars in New York City completed
their final runs.
1965 – U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson
authorized the use of ground troops in combat operations
in Vietnam.
1980 – Post It Notes are introduced.
1985 – U.S.
performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site.
1998 – The
Dow Jones Industrial average closed above 9,000 points for
the first time.

Call today to volunteer at a Family Readiness
Center near you.
If you are able to assist the families of our
deployed soldiers and airmen, please call our Family Readiness
Center at our
toll-free number 888-859-0352.
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