Morris County to hold two events to honor, preserve the dedication of those who served

MORRISTOWN, NJ (Morris County) – The Morris County Board of County Commissioners will honor local veterans during Veterans Day week by presenting Morris County Distinguished Military Service Medals to several former service members and hosting the return of a long-lost Purple Heart issued to a Morristown solider during World War II.

With Rockaway Borough, the Commissioners also will honor the late four-star Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, a Rockaway native who served as U.S. Army Chief of Staff from 2011 to 2015 and played a major role in planning the surge of American forces during the Iraq war that helped to stabilize the country.

Both ceremonies will be held on two separate days in the Morris County Commissioners’ public meeting room, Floor 5 of the Morris County Administration Building, located at 10 Court Street, in Morristown.

On November 10, at 4:30 p.m., during the regularly scheduled Work Session of the Board of Commissioners:

• The memory of Rockaway native Gen. Raymond Odierno, who died last month, will be honored. Joining the Commissioners will be Rockaway Mayor Tom Mulligan and Col. Jeff Cantor, CEO & Founder of the New Jersey Veterans Chamber of Commerce, who served with Gen. Odierno.
• Presentation of the Morris County Distinguished Military Service Medals to local veterans by the Board of County Commissioners.

On November 12, at 1:00 p.m., Purple Hearts Reunited will present the long-lost Purple Heart of a World War II solider from Morristown to members of the American Legion Post 59 and the Board of County Commissioners.

• The mission of Purple Hearts Reunited is to return lost, stolen and misplaced military medals of valor to veterans, their families or organizations to preserve the honors issued for their sacrifices to our nation.
• The American Legion Post 59 of Morristown is accepting a Purple Heart issued to Private First Class Edmund C. Vance of Morristown for wounds received in action at Saidor, New Guinea, on April 6, 1944 during WWII.