RARITAN TOWNSHIP, NJ (Hunterdon County) – Hunterdon County proudly honored the military service of 38 veterans at the Annual Medal Recognition Ceremony on Veterans Day, Nov. 11.
The event took place in the Assembly Room at the Route 12 County Complex in Raritan Township, in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd of family and friends.
While thanking the veterans for their service, Hunterdon County Board of Commissioners Director Jeff Kuhl told them, “American freedom would not exist without your sacrifice.”
Bob Looby, a decorated veteran and tireless advocate for veterans’ rights, was the guest speaker. Looby addressed the crowd, saying, “I want to thank all my brothers and sisters in arms, along with our law enforcement officers, for their unwavering dedication and service. By uniting at all levels—local, state, and national—we can ensure that every veteran receives the support and recognition they deserve. Together, we can address the challenges they face and honor their sacrifices in a meaningful way.”
In introducing Mr. Looby, State Senator Doug Steinhardt remarked, “It is my honor to introduce our distinguished speaker and Hunterdon County resident, Bob Looby. His numerous accomplishments with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the creation of KOVA (Keep Our Veterans Alive)—the only statewide veterans suicide awareness program—the expansion of the Veterans Haven South center, and his extensive work with state correctional programs have significantly impacted and bettered the lives of countless veterans.”
In addition to Senator Steinhardt, county officials who presented medals to the veterans included County Clerk Mary Melfi, Surrogate Heidi Rohrbach, Sheriff Fred Brown, Prosecutor Renée Robeson, Commissioner Director Jeff Kuhl, Deputy Director Susan Soloway, and Commissioners Shaun C. Van Doren and Zach Rich, along with Assemblyman John DiMaio and Assemblyman Erik Peterson.
The Hunterdon County Veterans Recognition Medal was designed over twenty years ago by the late John Hatzikalifas, a county resident and Vietnam War veteran.
Over the years, Hunterdon County has awarded the Veterans Recognition Medal to over 4,000 county veterans. Veterans interested in applying for the award should contact Hunterdon County Veterans Service Officer (VSO), U.S. Navy veteran Rich Booth at rbooth@co.hunterdon.nj.us or by calling (908) 788-4179. The application can also be accessed here.
Earlier in the day, at 11:00 a.m. on Veterans Day (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month), the Hunterdon County Historic Courthouse bell tolled 21 times to honor veterans, as it has every year on Veterans Day since 2018, when the commemoration marked the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.
For those unable to attend in person, the ceremony was livestreamed and recorded, ensuring that all could participate in honoring our veterans. The recorded video can be viewed here.
