Morris County honors eight local veterans, celebrates Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary and Civil War hero at annual ceremony
MORRISTOWN, N.J. (Morris County) — Eight local veterans were honored Thursday night by the Morris County Board of County Commissioners during their annual Veterans Day Observance Ceremony, which also celebrated the 250th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps and paid tribute to a Civil War Medal of Honor recipient.
The ceremony took place at the Morris County Administration and Records Building in Morristown, where Commissioner Director Tayfun Selen welcomed guests and reaffirmed the county’s ongoing commitment to veterans and their families.
“We believe it is our duty to support those who served, to honor their sacrifices and express our deepest gratitude for their service, not only on Veterans Day, but throughout the entire year!” said Director Selen. “To all veterans here and across the nation, thank you for your service, courage and dedication to something greater than yourself. May God bless you, your families and our country.”
Among those joining the Commissioners were state Sen. Anthony Bucco and Assemblywoman Aura K. Dunn (Morris-25); Willy Tolba, representing U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill; and J.D. Bryden, representing U.S. Rep. Tom Kean Jr., along with local officials from towns across the county.
Commissioner John Krickus, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, presented a Morris County Resolution of Honor to Sgt. Joseph Tortola and Staff Sgt. Rafael E. Vallejos of the 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve stationed at Picatinny Arsenal, in recognition of the Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary.
“The Marine Corps fearsome reputation was paid for at a high price — by the lives and limbs of Marines over these 250 years, from the battle of Princeton to the Kabul Airport,” said Commissioner Krickus. “For us Marine veterans and for those who still serve, our most important tradition is to never forget their sacrifice and to honor it by always conducting ourselves in a manner as to never bring disrepute to the Corps. Once a Marine, always Marine.”
Deputy Director Stephen Shaw led a special “Morris County Veteran of Valor” tribute honoring Cpl. Charles Fern Hopkins Sr., a Boonton native and Civil War hero awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery at the Battle of Gaines Mill in 1862.
During the tribute, Shaw recounted how Hopkins carried a wounded soldier to safety amid heavy crossfire and continued fighting despite being severely injured. Hopkins was later captured by Confederate soldiers and endured the brutal conditions of several notorious prisons before surviving the war and returning home. He went on to serve as a Morris County freeholder, state assemblyman, Boonton mayor and fire chief, earning the nickname “Grand Old Man of Boonton.”
Hopkins’ great-grandson, Charlie Maraziti, attended the ceremony with his wife, Pat, and brother, Joseph, accepting a resolution of honor from the commissioners. Sen. Bucco, a lifelong Boonton resident and longtime member of the Boonton Fire Department, also presented a state legislative resolution honoring Hopkins.
Following the tribute, the Commissioners presented Morris County Distinguished Military Service Medals to eight local veterans representing different branches and eras of service. Sen. Bucco and Assemblywoman Dunn presented joint state Senate-Assembly resolutions, while representatives for Reps. Kean and Sherrill awarded certificates of honor.
The honorees included:
- Jack B. Bosma, Kinnelon
- Vincent J. DeCaro, Randolph Township
- Christopher Gardner, Morristown
- Charles E. Johnson, Dover
- Robert Litrio, Hanover Township
- Ronald Pierantozzi, Pequannock Township
- Aniceto Rivera, Boonton Township
- Samuel Y. Yuen, Randolph Township
Full biographies of the honorees and photos from the event are available on the official Morris County website.
Director Selen also highlighted several county initiatives supporting veterans, including expanded staffing and office space for the Morris County Veterans Services Office, participation in the national “Operation Green Light for Veterans” campaign from Nov. 4–11, and the creation of The Healing Garden for Veterans at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum in partnership with the Morris County Park Commission and Veterans Valor.
