Satellite office opens
Marine Cpl. Jason King cuts the ribbon for the Port Murray VSO grand opening of its satellite office in the Hunterdon County Division of Senior Services, Flemington, one day per week (Wednesdays) on May 2. Photo by David Walther, State VSO Supervisor.

Cut the cake
With an assist from Donna Hickman (left), Senior Therapist Assistant, Vineland Veterans Memorial Home residents Helen
Neiman-Yates and Eugene F. Mann cut their wedding cake after getting married at the chapel on May 2. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Mark Olsen, NJDMAVA/PA.

Legion supports Memorial
American Legion Post 414 of Lawrence Township presented a
$500 check to the World War II Memorial recently at the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. Pictured left to right are Post 414 Service Officer David Snedeker, retired Col. Stephen Abel, Deputy Commissioner for Veterans Affairs accepts the check from Dianna Kuck, treasurer; Nicholas Loveless, historian and Charles Brothers, post commander. Photo by Kryn P. Westhoven, DMAVA/PA.

Essay winners coined
Deputy Commissioner Stephen G. Abel, a judge in this year’s
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Voice of Democracy essay contest presented the first through third place winners with one of his challenge coins at a dinner in Atlantic City. The students (front row) from left to right are: third place: Joshua E. Zane, second place: Megan A Partridge and first place: Anna M. Hermesmann. Also pictured are Frank Moore, the State Commander of the FW, Eileen Courtney, the President of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, ast State Commander and Voice of Democracy co-chairpersons Bill and Rose Grieman. Photo by Don Marshall, VFW.

League helps FRG
Army-Navy League commander Jack Dale (left) presents a
$5,000 check to Tina Bell (center), Vineland Family Readiness Group (FRG) President and Tracy Kloss (right), Woodbury FRG president on Feb. 24 at the National Guard Armory in oodbury. Photo by Kryn Westhoven, NJDMAVA/PA.

You served – You save
Operations Iraqi or Enduring Freedom? How about Vietnam, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, Northern or Southern Watch, Desert Storm or Desert Shield, Somalia or Bosnia?

If you served at least 14 days in a combat zone (see box with specific war dates), you are a citizen and resident of this state, honorably discharged or released under onorable conditions from active service in a wartime period, in any branch of the U.S. Armed Services, then you are eligible for the New Jersey Property Tax Exemption of $250. Filing of an application with all required documentation must be done prior to Dec. 31 of the pre-tax year.

ocumentation includes the property deed and a copy of the veteran’s DD-214. The widow may need to submit the roperty deed, marriage certificate, death certificate and a copyof the DD-214.

For homeowners who belong to cooperative associations, the procedure is different. The manager or superintendent must complete forms indicating the names and locations of the veterans or spouses within the co-op to the tax assessor. The deduction is then granted to the co-op, the co-op is responsible to either reduce the rent by $250 or present a check to the veteran or spouse.

Editor’s note: The Veterans Affairs Division contributed
to this story.

ONLINE RESOURCES

Combat Veterans Information
www.va.gov/Environagents/page.cfm?pg=16
Transition Assistance Program
www.va.gov/opa/fact/tranasst.asp
PTSD and Combat Veterans
www.ncptsd.org/topics/war.html
Survivors Benefits
www.vba.va.gov/survivors/index.htm
Women Veterans Information
www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Topics/Women/