MORRIS COUNTY — Veterans, families and service providers gathered at VFW Post 3401 on Thursday for the third annual Veterans Appreciation Day, where men and women who served in the United States military were honored and treated to lunch prepared and served by student volunteers from Morristown High School.
The event was hosted by Welcome Home Vets of New Jersey, Catholic Charities, NJ SOS Veteran Stakeholders, VFW Post 3401 and American Legion Post 59, Morristown.
Morris County Commissioner Director Stephen Shaw, Deputy Director John Krickus and Commissioners Christine Myers and Tayfun Selen attended the event, where Shaw delivered remarks to the group.
“Recognizing our veterans is something we can never do often enough, and Morris County remains committed to supporting our veterans throughout the year,” Shaw said. “The men and women who have worn our nation’s uniform have made sacrifices to protect the freedoms we cherish, and we are grateful for their service.”
Shaw noted that this year’s event followed National Purple Heart Day, observed August 7 during the nation’s 250th anniversary year. The Purple Heart, established by General George Washington during the Revolutionary War, is the nation’s oldest military decoration and honors service members who were wounded or killed in service to their country.
Among the other officials who attended and addressed the gathering were United States Representative Analilia Mejia, State Senator Anthony Bucco, Assemblywoman Aura Dunn, Assemblywoman Marisa Sweeney and Morris Plains Mayor Jason Karr. Morris County Human Services Director Kasey Errico and Christine Hellyer, director of the county’s Aging, Disabilities and Community Programming Office, also attended.
A.J. Luna, co-founder of the NJ SOS Veteran Stakeholders Group and a United States Army veteran who served from 2000 to 2006, including a deployment during Operation Iraqi Freedom, told attendees about the upcoming Remembering Our Fallen Moving Wall memorial at County College of Morris.
The national traveling memorial will be displayed at the college in Randolph from September 25 through September 27 as part of the 25th anniversary commemoration of the Global War on Terrorism. The memorial honors American service members who died during the conflict. Veterans, military families and members of the public are encouraged to attend.
The appreciation event also connected veterans with organizations offering services and support throughout Morris County and the region. County veterans services officers and staff from the Department of Human Services’ Navigating Hope mobile services unit were available to speak directly with veterans about available programs and assistance.
This year’s event was sponsored by Persistent Foundation of Parsippany. Other organizations present included Community Hope, Atlantic Behavioral Health, Employing Veterans and Military Spouses LLC, Catholic Charities’ Supportive Services for Veteran Families program, New Jersey Veterans Network, Loan Depot and the Veterans Crisis Line. Representatives were available to provide information about employment, behavioral health, housing and other support services.
For more information about Morris County veterans services, call (973) 285-6866.
