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February 19, 2025 |  | Ready To Serve ★ Proud To Have Served |
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The Importance of Connection |
In our work supporting Garden State Service Members, Veterans, and their families, we talk a lot about connectedness, both social connection and connection to resources.
New Jersey is fortunate to have a veteran and military community more than 300,000 strong. At the community level, veteran service organizations and many other groups committed to helping others meet routinely to share stories, support one another, and organize volunteer work. These organizations and their members help brothers and sisters who selflessly served the United States. Indeed, one’s sense of military comradery does not have to end with a set of orders. There are many opportunities to get involved and continue to give back. I encourage you to visit our outreach schedule for an opportunity near you.
There is also a large network of formal support and resources available to those who serve, those who have served, and those who care for them. In 2024, my team realized our important goal of opening a physical Veterans Service Office in each of our state’s twenty-one counties. These locations serve as points of entry to the benefits, programs, and services that Garden State heroes have earned through their service. Our trained and accredited Veteran Service Officers are a phone call away. You can dial 1-844-671-1019 for a phone menu to those offices. Want to email a question? Send it to the state Veterans Benefits Bureau account at vbb@dmava.nj.gov.
Most importantly, if you are having a tough time and would like to talk to someone who has walked a similar path - call DMAVA’s New Jersey Vet2Vet helpline at 1-866-838-7654 any time of day, seven days a week.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, dial 988 and Press 1 for Veteran.
Those who are reading this message are the doers. You made a conscious decision to learn more about the benefits, programs, and services provided by DMAVA and our partners. I ask that you forward this email and continue to not only share information, but continue to take the time to reach out to our brothers and sisters who have worn our nation’s uniform. Take that step, and then take one more. Never underestimate the value of time and meals shared in fellowship with the veteran community. |
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| As always, thank you for staying connected to DMAVA.
We invite you to share ideas, events and feedback. Please email our team at outreach@dmava.nj.gov.
Brigadier General Yvonne L. Mays
Adjutant General & Commissioner |
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DMAVA Calendar | DMAVA is sponsoring or will participate in the events below. A DMAVA Veterans Service Officer will be present at many of these events. Please check details to confirm. |
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We add new events to our calendar on a daily basis so please bookmark and check back often. |
| View Full Calendar |
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 | State Command Chief Warrant Officer
U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jenniffer Tossas assumed responsibility as the State Command Chief Warrant Officer during a ceremony at the Bordentown Armory on February 8, 2025.
View Images | View Video |
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 | Last Formation Ceremony
U.S. Army Brigadier General Mike LaPoint, Assistant Adjutant General – Army, and Command Sergeant Major Mark A. Leonard, the State Command Sergeant Major of the New Jersey National Guard, held a Last Formation ceremony at the Joint Military & Family Assistance Center in Bordentown, NJ on February 8, 2025.
The Last Formation ceremony recognizes Soldiers and their families who are departing or starting a much-deserved retirement from military service. View Images |
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NJ Veterans Memorial Home at VinelandMembers of the Montebello Veteran’s Group from West Berlin, NJ, held a bingo event for the residents at the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home at Vineland on February 13, 2025.
The Group is a huge advocate in the community to raise funds for the Vineland Home. Last December, they presented the Vineland Home with a $7,000 donation.
The group sponsors multiple events throughout the year ranging from bowling, bingo events, and a barbeque each September at the Home’s Victory Garden. In addition, they have taken residents to a Phillies game and bought each resident that attended a hat and t-shirt. View Images |
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 | Luis Segura, Sussex County VSOLuis Segura is the DMAVA Veterans Service Officer (VSO) for Sussex County.
If you know anyone in need of assistance regarding Veteran’s benefits, please contact Luis or one of his colleagues by visiting our website at Veterans Service Offices. |
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Get Connected to Resources & Services | The New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs has partnered with Unite Us to connect individuals and families to a wide variety of services and resources.
Unite Us is a coordinated care referral network of health and social service providers. Unite Us can connect our New Jersey military and veteran community to resources to obtain benefits, food assistance, housing, education, transportation, behavioral health services, peer support and more. |
| Learn More & Request Assistance |
Veteran Service Providers |
Do you provide services to Veterans? We would like to get you enrolled in this new online referral network, Unite NJ Veterans. This digital platform connects Veterans to the resources around them quickly. Learn more and enroll. |
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 | Tax season guidance for VeteransVA News | February 6, 2025
As tax season approaches, many Veterans begin gathering their necessary financial documents and consulting with tax professionals. VA wants Veterans to know they may qualify for special tax breaks and free assistance programs to help them navigate the filing process and maximize their returns.
Whether a Veteran files their taxes independently or uses a tax professional, VA encourages Veterans and their loved ones to review the following tips and resources to both help them navigate the tax season with confidence and to avoid tax season scams.
Learn More |
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Veteran takes on fight against food insecurity in New JerseyRay Zardetto | roi-nj.com | January 29, 2025
Jon Rowe joined the nation’s war against terrorism upon graduating college in 2008. He served for six years in the U.S. Navy, including two tours in Afghanistan.
He transitioned to civilian life in 2014, and after working for Wayfair, Amazon and Clutter, Rowe joined New Jersey’s war against hunger. He became the Vice President of Operations for Fulfill, the Monmouth and Ocean County food bank in 2022.
“I was employed by Clutter and things were going well, but I thought the non-profit aspect of Fulfill was appealing,” he said. “The chance to use your skills and talents for a charitable purpose – there is something more to it when you use your talent to achieve what we achieve at Fulfill.”
Fulfill is part of Feeding America, a Chicago-based nationwide non-profit network of 200 food banks and pantries. In New Jersey, it has a main operations center in Neptune and a satellite operation in Toms River. Read Full Story |
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Horizon Foundation launches grant program to support New Jersey veteransRay Zardetto | Excerpt from roi-nj.com | February 3, 2025
The About Us – The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey the philanthropic arm of Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield, is launching a special Veterans Health Initiative on Feb. 3. It will provide grants to veterans’ organizations that are addressing the unique challenges veterans face.
“This is a new veterans-focused grants program,” Uli Diaz, senior vice president of government and community affairs for Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield said. “The Horizon Foundation has created this special Veterans Health Initiative in recognition of the extraordinary sacrifices and contributions veterans have made and to help ensure these veterans get the support they need and deserve.”
The Foundation will award one-year grants up to $20,000 for veterans’ organizations which serve veterans and their families. Read Full Story
Editors Note: Attend a March Zoom meeting to learn more. |
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Chief Master Sergeant MontalvoOn February 1, 2025, the 108th Wing celebrated the retirement of Chief Master Sgt. Marcie Montalvo after 32 years of service with the New Jersey Air National Guard.
We wish you well in your future endeavors and hope you enjoy your well-deserved retirement!
Thank you for your three-plus decades of honorable service! |
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NJ Youth ChalleNGe Academy Class 1With the help from two Cadets, New Jersey Adjutant General Major General Paul J. Glazar, Governor Christine Todd Whitman and Director George W. Paffendorf cut the ribbon at the official opening ceremony for the NJ Youth ChalleNGe Academy on October 11, 1994 at Fort Dix, NJ.
A total of 122 youth from around the state began the first session two weeks prior on September 25, 1994. |
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New Jersey Fallen Heroes Memorial | In Honor of all those from New Jersey who gave their lives in the fight against terrorism during Operation Enduring Freedom & Iraqi Freedom.
In humble gratitude, we remember their sacrifice. | Memorial Inscription"But on the battlefield their feet stood fast, and in an instant at the height of their fortune, they passed away from the scene, not of their fear, but of their glory."
~ Pericles |
| NJ Fallen Heroes Memorial |
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Essex Troop in Washington, D.C. in 1913 |
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| February 25, 1966 |
Marine Staff Sergeant Peter S. Connor of South Orange was mortally wounded in Vietnam when he threw himself on a hand grenade to save his men from injury. Connor’s self-sacrifice was posthumously recognized when he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism. | February 28, 1844 |
Princeton-born United States Navy captain Robert Stockton took his ship, the USS Princeton, for a pleasure cruise on the Potomac River, with President John Tyler, his cabinet and 200 guests aboard. A cannon designed by Stockton was fired and exploded, killing six people, including Secretary of State Abel Upshur, Secretary of the Navy Thomas Gilmer and the president’s soon to be father-in-law as well as his personal valet. A quickly held court of inquiry absolved the captain, a personal friend of Tyler. |
February 28, 1942 |
A German submarine torpedoed the SS R.P. Resor eighteen miles east of Lavallette on a bright moonlit night. The explosion and “spectacular, towering fire” was so great that it could be seen from shore, and the Shark River Lifeboat Station was the first to report the incident. Only two men survived. The following morning, the World War I–era destroyer USS Jacob Jones was torpedoed while searching for more survivors. There were only twelve survivors of the sinking of the Jones. |
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February 29, 1780 |
Continental Army Quartermaster General Nathanael Greene wrote from Morristown: “Our provisions are in a manner, gone. We have not a ton of hay at command, nor magazine [supply point] to draw from. Money is extremely scarce, and worth little when we get it. We have been so poor in camp for a fortnight, (two weeks) that we could not forward the public dispatches, for want of cash to support the expresses.” | March 2, 1902
| Morris “Moe” Berg was born in New York City. Raised in Newark’s Roseville section, Berg became the best baseball player the city ever produced, with a brilliant mind to boot, graduating from Princeton University and Columbia University Law School. He became a major league baseball player and coach, World War II OSS agent and legendary eccentric Roseville character. Berg died in Belleville on May 29, 1972. His last words were “how did the Mets do today?” |
March 2, 1933 | President Herbert Hoover signed legislation making George Washington’s headquarters and his Army’s winter camp at Morristown the first National Historical Park in the United States. |
March 4, 1913 | New Jersey Governor Woodrow Wilson was inaugurated as President of the United States. Wilson’s inaugural parade was led by the Essex Troop, a New Jersey National Guard cavalry unit from Newark wearing British-influenced full dress uniforms custom tailored by Brooks Brothers in New York City. |
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We Are Hiring!At the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs we take our work in support of Veterans, Servicemembers and their families very seriously. Whether supporting our Veterans with nursing care, transitional housing, or assisting them in navigating access to their Veteran benefits, the Department provides valuable services and can offer rewarding career opportunities to members of the public.
We also have opportunities in facilities management and program management. In addition, we have job openings for members of our military to serve in AGR and Federal Technician roles.
Subscribe to DMAVA Jobs Bulletin to stay updated on job openings.
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We hope you enjoy receiving our newsletter and find it both educational and engaging. If you have questions about our department, our programs or your benefits, please visit our website at nj.gov/military to get contact information. |
| Contact DMAVA |
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Please email us at outreach@dmava.nj.gov with feedback and comments regarding the newsletter. If you would like to contribute with an item of interest to our subscribers, please email us your proposal.
Visit the DMAVA archives to view previous editions of our newsletter. |
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nj.gov/military NJ Department of Military & Veterans Affairs 101 Eggerts Crossing Road
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
Privacy Notice
Disclaimer: The appearance of any non-DMAVA information or hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement of the products or services on the part of the New Jersey Department of Military & Veterans Affairs. |
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