Mercer County To Be Recognized As Veteran Friendly County

Mercer County will become the first county in New Jersey to be recognized as a veteran-friendly county this weekend.

The State of New Jersey Order of the Purple Heart will recognize the county with the honor during a Veterans Day ceremony on Sunday, Nov. 6, at noon at Catholic War Veterans Post 417, 301 Grand Street in Trenton.

The ceremony is presented by the Mercer County Veteran Services and the Mercer County Veterans Council.

Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes will join with other county and local officials to give recognition and appreciation to the many residents who have served in America’s armed forces.

Hughes will give brief remarks at the ceremony, followed by remarks from Sgt. Norm Glover, Vice Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart and a Vietnam War veteran.

Glover served three years in the U.S. Army infantry, including a one-year tour in Vietnam and a one-year tour at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, as Protocol NCO and Dignitary Protection.

He is the recipient of the Purple Heart, two Army Commendation Medals, Good Conduct Medal, Vietnamese Service Medal, N.J. Distinguished Service Medal and N.J. Vietnamese Service Medal.

He serves on the General Advisory Committee of the Mercer County Technical Schools, and on the Veterans Advisory Commission for Mercer County Community College.

In 2003, he returned to school at MCCC. He earned his Associate’s Degree in Business Management in 2012 at the age of 62, serving as the student speaker during commencement ceremonies. He is currently working toward an Associate degree in Culinary Arts at MCCC.

This year’s program will also feature the laying of a wreath to honor veterans’ service, a salute to fallen veterans by American Legion Post 31, and the playing of taps by Walter Kramarz of the Mercer County Veterans Council.