Veterans Honored In Morris Co. Memorial Day Observance

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — Ten veterans were awarded Distinguished Military Service Medals during the Morris County Annual Memorial Day Observance ceremony held outside the Morris County Courthouse in Morristown.

U.S. Representatives Mikie Sherrill and Thomas Malinowski, as well as Sen. Anthony Bucco, Assemblywoman Aura Dunn and Assemblyman Christian Barranco, presented the veterans with honors ranging from the Korean War to Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“These medals are unique to Morris County, and they have been awarded for well over 20 years to veterans or their family members to honor their service to our country. And we are proud to continue our tradition today,” Commissioner Director Tayfun Selen said.

“These medals began when we wanted to honor our Greatest Generation – those who fought in World War II. But we expanded the program to cover other times of service by our men and women, including the Korean War, Vietnam and other conflicts when our armed forces put their lives on the line. Once again, we are officially expanding our program. This year, we will include medals specifically designed to recognize service in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan,” Selen said.

The guest speaker was Emerson Crooks of Randolph's VFW Post 7333, which is hosting the Vietnam Memorial "Moving Wall" – a half-scale replica of the Washington, D.C. monument – at the County College of Morris from July 7 to 11.

Crooks emphasized the importance of continuing to honor veterans, noting that the WWI and WWII Memorials in Washington, D.C. are seeing fewer visitors each year, and he fears the Vietnam War Memorial will follow suit.

Here are the recipients of the Morris County Distinguished Service Medals:

Joseph Bryan Barbato, Boonton Township: Served in both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom during nearly 15-years of service with the New Jersey Army National Guard.

David Ernest Brady, Morristown: Served as an U.S Army Medical Corpsman in his term of service, from November 1964 through October 1970 during the Vietnam War.

William Everett Brady, Morristown: Served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Korea during the Vietnam War from June 1962 through June 1965.

Robert Kent Shaw, Boonton Township (posthumous): Served in the Korean War after being inducted into the U.S. Army on April 11, 1951 and, upon returning from Korea on April 17, 1953, Mr. Shaw was transferred to the Army Reserves and honorably discharged on May 6, 1957.

Arthur Charles Schumm, Rockaway Borough: Served with the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War from May 2, 1968 through March 30, 1972.

Carl “Mike” Cabañas, Morristown: Served in both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom with the U.S. Army from Oct. 1, 2000 through July 21, 2013.

John P. Wagener, Montville: Served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, from June 1957 through May 1969.

Ketankuma “Ketan” A. Shah, Parsippany: Served in the United States Marine Corps in both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Thomas Philip Infusino, III, Montville: Served in the New Jersey Army National Guard, including a tour in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2013.

Nancy M. Jones, Wharton: Served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War from August 1967 through September 1968.

Richard Alan Elfenbein, Flanders (posthumous): Served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War from 1966 through 1968.

"We do not forget our heroes in Morris County, especially those who fall in combat or during military service. It is traditional to remember at least one by name at our Memorial Day Observance, and this year we look back on one who suffered through one of the most brutal conflicts of our nation: The Civil War,” Commissioner Deputy Commissioner John Krickus said.