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About NJ Veteran Journal:
The New Jersey 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 the editor at: NJDMAVA, PAO-V, PO Box 340, Trenton, NJ 08625-0340
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Rememberance Day Medal Ceremony Draws Crowd
Retired Col. Stephen G. Abel, Deputy Commissioner for Veterans Affairs, presents the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal, the state’s top military award, and the New Jersey Vietnam Service Medal to retired Marine Corps Capt. Karl E. Dahlberg during a medal ceremony conducted at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Holmdel. The May 7 ceremony was part of the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial Remembrance Day with 50 service members or their families receiving awards. The memorial is located on the grounds of the PNC Arts Center at Garden State Parkway exit 116. Information about the memorial is available at www.njvvmf.org. For more information on the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal, Vietnam or Korea Service medals visit www.nj.gov/military/veterans/ index.html and click the link for each medal to apply. Bill McDonnell, Camden County Veteran Service officer (VSO) recently wrote about one of his rewarding ccomplishments in 2006: “I assisted an 84-year-old woman last year in getting her second husband, a World War II veteran, buried at sea by the Coast Guard. When she came to thank me for the burial at sea she, as an after thought, said that her first husband, Andrew, was killed in the Battle of the Bulge and she ondered if there were any benefits remaining. She brought in some World War II letters including a letter from President Roosevelt with apologies about the death of her husband in combat. I sent the letters to VA. A few months later the woman called me, crying, saying she had a big check in the mail and there must be a mistake. I told her it was not a mistake and that this was in tribute to her acrifice, losing her husband in World War II. I told her that she would now receive about $1,200 a year, tax-free for the rest of her life. She was in tears. I also completed her application for health benefits. In fact, I even went to visit the World War II battle victim at his grave in Beverly Cemetery. I wanted him to know that I took good care of his wife, just as I would want a VSO to help my family if something happened to me. I was thinking, ‘Don’t worry Andrew . . . you died much too young . . . but your lovely widow is well taken care of now. Andrew, may you rest in peace.’ The VSO job allows you to have a tremendous impact on veterans and their families. You help them get benefits they never knew about. It is like having a magic wand. You open up doors to them. These benefits will be with them as long as they live. This job is a unique opportunity to make an impact on all veterans and their families. We should all feel blessed to be doing this work.” The Passaic VSO has busy first quarter According to Titus Osuagwu of the Passaic VSO, that office assisted with 74 monetary awards, culminating in $1,653,031 in federal benefits being provided to veterans. This was a very active first quarter of the year, culminating with Len Johnson, who had been on sick leave, returning to work early in April. Navy Vet gets upgraded to 100 percent Port Murray Veterans Service Office assisted a World War II Navy veteran to obtain a 100 percent permanentservice connected compensation as well as $26,790 in retrograde payments. The veteran had been trying since 2005 to have his claim upgraded. He will also no longer be required to pay property
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| (c) 2006 - NJ Department of Military & Veterans Affairs | ||||
