PEQUANNOCK TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Morris County) — Morris County officials presented Distinguished Military Service Medals to 21 veteran residents of the Cedar Crest Senior Living Community during a ceremony attended by more than 100 veterans, family members and local dignitaries.
The event, held inside the Cedar Crest chapel, recognized veterans who served in conflicts dating back to World War II. The ceremony was led by Morris County Commissioner Director Stephen H. Shaw, along with Commissioners Thomas Mastrangelo and Tayfun Selen, and coordinated in partnership with the Cedar Crest Veterans Club.
Assemblymembers Brian Bergen and Jay Webber presented Joint Senate-Assembly resolutions, while County Sheriff James M. Gannon and County Clerk Ann Grossi distributed certificates of recognition. In addition to the county medals and certificates, each honoree received a 250th anniversary baseball cap donated by the Morris County Tourism Bureau.
“We believe it is our duty not only to honor those who served, but to support them — not just on occasions like this, but every single day,” said Director Shaw, noting the ceremony coincided with Presidents’ Day and the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary.
Shaw also highlighted recent expansions at the county’s Veterans Services Office, which now includes four service officers and additional support staff. The office has begun offering weekly on-site services at the County College of Morris Veterans Resource Center in addition to its location in Morris Township. A veterans services officer is scheduled to return to Cedar Crest for an information session at the Veterans Club’s March 12 meeting.
Commissioner Selen, who immigrated to the United States 29 years ago, thanked the veterans for safeguarding American freedoms.
“Without people like you protecting this nation and all it has to offer to free-loving people in this world, my chance in a lifetime never would have been possible,” said Commissioner Selen. “You are America’s true patriots, and I personally thank you.”
The keynote address was delivered by Bergen, a U.S. Army combat veteran and former Apache helicopter pilot who earned the Bronze Star and Combat Action Badge for his service in Iraq.
“Every veteran in this room and every spouse of a veteran, you are truly cared about,” said Bergen. “I deeply care about you, and the members of this county who put this program together deeply care about you.”
Before the medals were presented, Mastrangelo provided background on the Distinguished Military Service Medals program, which began in 1999 to honor World War II veterans on the 55th anniversary of D-Day and later expanded to include veterans of Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and other conflicts.
The honorees were Brian Alberse, Fred C. Beavers, Glen Bertholf, Harold J. Campbell, Ira D. Clemens, Richard Cohen, James Gage, Roger A. Gengaro, Howard A. Goldman, Patrick Granowski, Frank Grehl, Leland J. Katz, James F. Keegan, Walter Maher, James J. McDonald, Joseph B. Paperman, Andrew TerWaarbeek, Gerard A. Tutzauer, Stephen Vallario, William Vanderburg and Jerome Winnick.
The ceremony opened with a presentation of the colors by members of the Cedar Crest Veterans Club and included remarks from Cedar Crest Executive Director Ryan Fitzpatrick, Director of Resident Life Glenn Howard and Veterans Club President Joseph Paperman.
Additional officials in attendance included Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, County Administrator Deena Leary, Assistant County Administrator Brian Murray, Pequannock Township Deputy Mayor Melissa Florance-Lynch, Township Administrator Adam Brewer and Police Chief Dan Comune.
The ceremony concluded with a reception in the Cedar Crest Woodland Commons Conference Center.
