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May 28, 2025 |  |
Ready To Serve ★ Proud To Have Served |
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 | Soldiers with the 63rd Army Band, New Jersey Army National Guard, march in the parade at the start of the State Memorial Day Ceremony at the Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown, NJ on May 24, 2025. |
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Memorial Day Observed |
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Last weekend, I joined thousands of other New Jerseyans at ceremonies and events intended to pay special tribute to the brave New Jerseyans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces and never returned home. From the beaches of Normandy to the mountains of Afghanistan, from Korea’s frozen terrain to the jungles of Vietnam - the sons and daughters of the Garden State answered the call. Their names are etched in granite, but their memory lives in us.
As I traveled the state, my thoughts were especially with those who are still missing in action. Their absence is a wound that has never fully healed. I am grateful that we live in a country that continues the search, that carries their memory forward, and honors them with unwavering resolve.
This year marks another important milestone - fifty years since the end of the Vietnam War. For far too long, the Veterans of that conflict returned home to a nation struggling to understand their sacrifice. While Memorial Day is about honoring our war dead, this weekend enabled me to say with unity and conviction to our heroes who served all those years ago, “Welcome home. We see you. We honor you. And we are grateful for your service.”
I am mindful of the continued commitment of the Soldiers and Airmen of the New Jersey National Guard. Those who are always ready, always there. From disaster response to overseas deployment, the units of the New Jersey National Guard represent the best of our state: service, sacrifice, and strength. In the coming days, we will commemorate the lives of New Jersey National Guard Soldiers killed in action in Iraq. May their memory continue to be a blessing.
The United States commemorated Memorial Day on the eve of its 250th birthday. As I looked out upon patriots gathered up and down our great state, I was reminded of the enduring promise of democracy - that freedom must be defended, not just once, but in every generation. The lives we honored last weekend are part of that great American story. Their sacrifice secured our future. Their legacy shapes our present.
So let us not only remember, let us also recommit ourselves to live lives worthy of their sacrifice. Let us strengthen the institutions they died defending and carry forward the ideals that they and millions others fought for and believed in. |
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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 Memorial Day Ceremony
New Jersey Gov. Philip D. Murphy, Brig. Gen. Yvonne L. Mays, The Adjutant General of New Jersey, along with the New Jersey National Guard leadership, state veterans and community organizations, and several hundred attendees honored New Jersey's fallen service members during the annual State Memorial Day Ceremony at the Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown, NJ on May 24, 2025.
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Memorial Day Ceremony
On Memorial Day, Brig. Gen. Yvonne L. Mays, The Adjutant General of New Jersey, and Deputy Commissioner of Veterans Affairs Vincent Solomeno III joined former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, Senator Declan O’Scanlon, Senator Vin Gopal, the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans‘ Memorial Foundation, state veterans and community organizations, and over one hundred citizens to honor New Jersey's fallen service members at the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial and Museum in Holmdel.
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 | Purple Heart Presentation Ceremony
Twelve U.S. Army Soldiers with the 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New Jersey Army National Guard, were awarded the Purple Heart in a ceremony at the National Guard Armory in Lawrenceville, NJ on May 17, 2025.
The Soldiers were awarded their Purple Hearts for wounds received while deployed to Syria in 2024 in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. View Images |
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 | Army National Guard Region I Best Warrior Competition
PFC Makayla Panzer | 114th Public Affairs Det. | May 23, 2025
Sgt. Kristopher Piwowarczyk (right), a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 104th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New Jersey Army National Guard, and Spc. Adam Andrews, a combat medic with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment, Rhode Island Army National Guard, were named Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the Year, respectively, after winning the Region I Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition (RBWC), May 23, 2025, at the Edward Cross Training Center in Pembroke, New Hampshire.
The four-day event, held May 20–23, tested 15 top competitors from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey in locations across the state.
“I wasn’t competing against other competitors,” said Piwowarczyk. “The only thing I was up against was myself. I asked how I could perform at my highest level and learned from past weaknesses and failures.”
Read Full Story |
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 | NJ Service Medals
The State of New Jersey awards medals to honorably discharged Veterans of the state who served in various conflicts and combat theaters.
State medals include the Distinguished Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, POW/MIA Medal, Desert Storm Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Medal.
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 | NJ Veterans Memorial Home at Vineland
The New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home at Vineland celebrated National Skilled Nursing Care Week with this year's theme: "Tapestry of Life"
The theme highlights the connections, resilience and strength that unite everyone at the homes.
Thank you to all of the individuals who reside, work, and volunteer at our Veteran Memorial Homes. |
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Service Academy Nominees HonoredEarlier this month, Deputy Commissioner of Veterans Affairs Vincent Solomeno III spoke at U.S. Representative Frank Pallone, Jr.’s 25th Annual Spring Awards Ceremony held at Middlesex County College in Edison.
Solomeno served as a keynote and joined the Congressman in recognizing high school seniors nominated to attend the United States Military Academy, Naval Academy, Coast Guard Academy, Merchant Marine Academy, and Air Force Academy. |
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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 |
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Veteran Homelessness | The mission of Bringing Veterans Home (BVH) is to effectively end veteran homelessness in New Jersey by enhancing existing systems, creating rapid access to housing, and ensuring homelessness becomes rare, brief, and non-recurring.
BVH creates a clear path to stable housing for veterans experiencing homelessness through a coordinated network of services and support. |
| Learn More / Refer a Veteran |
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Share your story with “VLM for Living Veterans”VA News | May 14, 2025
“VLM for Living Veterans” allows Veterans to share their life stories today.
Made possible by the Veterans Legacy Memorial (VLM), the new online feature is free and it enables Veterans to securely share their photos, autobiographies, military and life milestone achievements, and historical documents about their lives.
All you need to do is sign up for and be approved for a pre-need eligibility determination with VA. Pre-need eligibility is a way to find out if you’re eligible to be buried in a VA national cemetery ahead of time.
VA will keep your personal content secure until you pass and are approved for a burial or memorial benefit. Following approval, your content will become public and appear on your VLM personal page.
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 | 55,000 Flags
More than 1,100 New Jersey Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Brownies, and family members placed more than 55,000 American flags on graves at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Wrightstown, NJ on May 23, 2025.
The Cemetery, dedicated in 1986, is New Jersey’s sole state-operated veterans’ cemetery and is managed by the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. It is the final resting place for more than 92,000 veterans and family members. View Images
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Rutgers Army ROTC CommissioningOn Wednesday May 21st, we celebrated the Commissioning of 24 2nd Lieutenants into the United State Army. Congratulations to our Class of 2025. A new generation of leaders ready to serve with courage, commitment, and pride. The Rutgers Army ROTC Program is so proud and cannot wait to see what you are able to accomplish next!
A special thank you to our speakers, Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway and Rutgers ROTC Alum Col (Ret) Patricia Collins, for their inspirational speeches and guidance.
Image and caption courtesy Rutgers Army ROTC. |
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 | Seton Hall Army ROTC Commissioning
On May 24th, the graduating MS4 ROTC cadets of Seton Hall University and sister schools, proudly celebrated their commissioning ceremony, marking the beginning of their journey as officers in the United States Army.
A heartfelt thank you to all the friends and family who joined us and supported their loved ones during this momentous occasion.
And to our departing MS4s, your presence, leadership, and camaraderie will be deeply missed. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors and continued success in your military careers!
Image and caption courtesy Seton Hall Army ROTC. |
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 | Blue Star Museums
Blue Star Museums is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families, in collaboration with the Department of Defense and museums across America, offering free admission to the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve.
The 2025 Blue Star Museums program began on Armed Forces Day, May 17, 2025 and ends on Labor Day, September 1, 2025.
Learn More |
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 | Staff Sergeant Justin Kahill
During the 177th Fighter Wing's drill in May, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Justin Kahill, 227th Air Support Squadron Joint Terminal Attack Controller, received a Bronze Star Medal for his meritorious service in a combat zone.
Kahill was deployed to CENTCOM in March of 2024 and returned home in November of 2024. During his deployment, he would go above and beyond, showing high-level skill and resolve, which would earn him his Bronze Star.
“I was just happy to be able to go over there and accomplish the mission,” said Kahill. “I am glad everyone was able to come home.”
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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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Princeton Battle Monument Dedication in 1922. |
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| June 1, 1813 |
Burlington-born Captain James Lawrence sailed the USS Chesapeake out of Boston Harbor to battle HMS Shannon. Lawrence’s crew was not yet properly trained, and the Shannon won the brief engagement, during which Lawrence was mortally wounded and gained eternal fame for his words “Don’t give up the ship.” They did. | June 1, 1815 |
Philip Kearny, nineteenth-century New Jersey’s greatest war hero, with service in both the Mexican and Civil Wars, was born in New York City. Many historians cite his birthday as June 2, due to an early biographer’s error. Kearny spent most of his formative years on a family estate near Newark. He commanded the First New Jersey Brigade in 1861 and early 1862 during the Civil War, and was killed in action at Chantilly, Virginia, on September 1, 1862, while leading the First Division of the Third Army Corps. |
June 2, 1918 | The day that became known as “Black Sunday” when the German submarine U-151 sank six U.S. ships and damaged two others off the coast of New Jersey in the space of a few hours. |
June 6, 1780 | Hessian General Wilhelm Von Knyphausen crossed from Staten Island to Elizabethtown with 6,000 British and Hessian troops at midnight, intending to push through Hobart’s gap to Morristown the following day. |
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June 6, 1878 |
John P. Holland of Paterson tested his first submarine design in the Passaic River. Although he claimed it seaworthy, the U.S. Navy rejected his plans. | June 8, 1944 |
The men of the New Jersey National Guard’s 102nd Cavalry, who had floated offshore for two days, landed at Omaha Beach on D-Day plus two, as the beachhead had been expanded enough to accommodate the unit’s vehicles. In the following weeks, Sergeant Curtis Culin of Cranford and the 102nd devised the “Rhino Plow,” a device that, attached to the front of tanks, cut through the hedgerows of Normandy, vitally assisting the allied armies in breaking out of their beachhead. In the ensuing months, the 102nd fought its way across Europe, on the way gaining the honor of being the first United States unit to enter Paris in August 1944. |
June 9, 1922 |
The Princeton Battle Monument, created by sculptor Frederick MacMonnies and architect Thomas Hastings to commemorate General George Washington’s January 3, 1777 victory over the British, was dedicated by President Warren Harding. The sculpture depicts Washington leading his troops to victory and the mortal wounding of General Hugh Mercer, for whom Mercer County was later named. |
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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
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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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