New Jersey Veterans Honored for Service

They have given of themselves in an effort to preserve the freedoms that Americans have come to know and enjoy—and on Tuesday, the New Jersey government took a moment to recognize that and offer its service.

The New Jersey Department of Military and Veteran Affairs held a special ceremony at the to present medals of honor to many veterans living in Somerset, Morris, Hunterdon, Middlesex and Mercer counties.

Two veterans from Lawrence Township - Sgt. Joseph Fruscione, who served in World War II, and Gary Willard, who was killed during the Vietnam War - were among those honored. Relatives of Willard were on hand to accept his medals.

"It means a lot to be here as lieutenant governor, and as a mother because my son is enlisted," said New Jersey Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, who served as the honorary speaker at the ceremony.

Also part of the ceremony was the introduction of a table that will be at the mall until Thursday to let veterans know of the different services offered to veterans by the state.

"We want to make sure the veterans know the services offered," Guadagno said. "Many veterans either don't know or are not willing to find out."

Guadagno said the department does many of these ceremonies in malls in order to set up those tables to offer services in a centrally located place.

"We do these at least once a month," said Brigadier General Michael Cunniff, acting adjutant general, after the ceremony. "We go to where the vets are so they don't have to travel, and we set up a kiosk."

Cunniff said some veterans got out of the service in the 1950s, and just may not know what services are offered.

"They wouldn't normally hear about the services, but our job is to get the information out to them," he said. "We want to pay them back for their service."

Veterans and their families filled the seats in the center court of the mall alongside many local dignitaries, including Assemblyman John DiMaio, R-23; Assemblyman Erik Peterson, R-23; Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, R-16; Somerset County Sheriff Frank Provenzano; and Bridgewater Township Councilman Howard Norgalis.

According to Guadagno, in her keynote speech, there are 423,000 service veterans in New Jersey alone.

"You the veterans have protected this nation from determined enemies," she said. "We must never forget what you have done for your country and your families."

Cunniff, is in his own speech, said he enjoys the opportunity to go meet veterans in these different ceremonies.

"This ensures the veterans are recognized for what they have done and what their families have done," he said. "The best way we can help the veterans is to make sure they take advantage of every benefit that is offered."

The kiosk with information about the services offered by the state will be in the mall through Thursday. For more information, visit the department's website.

Those honored at Tuesday's ceremony were:

• Sgt. John Bennett Jr., of Flagtown, U.S. Army veteran, Vietnam War—Distinguished Service Medal and Vietnam Service Medal
• Seaman William Cotov, of Hackettstown, U.S. Navy veteran, Korean War—Distinguished Service Medal and Korean Service Medal
• Sgt. Joseph Fishman, of Somerset, U.S. Army veteran, Korean War—Meritorious Service Medal and Korean Service Medal
• Pvt. Joseph Jones, of Trenton, U.S. Army veteran, Vietnam War—Distinguished Service Medal and Vietnam Service Medal
• Gunners Mate First Class Paul Kakas, of Hamilton, U.S. Navy veteran, Vietnam War—Distinguished Service Medal and Vietnam Service Medal
• Specialist Five Kenneth Kruppo, of Old Ridge, U.S. Army veteran, Vietnam War—Distinguished Service Medal and Vietnam Service Medal
• Capt. Ronald Kunz, of Clinton, U.S. Air Force, Vietnam War, posthumous award—Distinguished Service Medal and Vietnam Service Medal
• Petty Officer Third Class Clay Mason, of Flemington, U.S. Navy, Operation Desert Storm—Distinguished Service Medal
• Sgt. John Matier, of Kenilworth, U.S. Army, Operation Iraqi Freedom—Distinguished Service Medal
• Mstr. Sgt. Roland Miclette, Jr., of Milford, U.S. Air Force, Operation Desert Storm, posthumous award—Meritorious Service Medal
• Pvt. First Class Angelo Paradiso, of South Plainfield, U.S. Army, World War II—Distinguished Service Medal
• Specialist Four William Pochettino, of Hamburg, U.S. Army, Vietnam War—Distinguished Service Medal and Vietnam Service Medal
• Staff Sgt. Nelinda Rios, of Flemington, U.S. Army, Operation Iraqi Freedom—Distinguished Service Medal
• Seaman John Swayser, of Trenton, U.S. Navy, Vietnam War—Distinguished Service Medal and Vietnam Service Medal
• Specialist Four Gary Willard, of Lawrenceville, U.S. Army, Vietnam War, posthumous award—Distinguished Service Medal and Vietnam Service Medal

Also honored, though not present at the ceremony, were:

• Sgt. Joseph Benedetto, of Trenton, U.S. Army, Vietnam War—Distinguished Service Medal and Vietnam Service Medal
• Sgt. Christopher Cornine, of Morris Plains, U.S. Army, Operation Iraqi Freedom—Distinguished Service Medal
• First Lt. Ragnvald Ervick, of Whitehouse Station, U.S. Army, Vietnam War—Distinguished Service Medal and Vietnam Service Medal
• Specialist Four Bartola Failla, of Stanhope, U.S. Army, Vietnam War—Distinguished Service Medal and Vietnam Service Medal
• Sgt. Joseph Fruscione, of Lawrenceville, U.S. Army, World War II—Distinguished Service Medal
• Cpl. Michael Hoy, of East Brunswick, U.S. Army, World War II—Distinguished Service Medal
• Pvt. Joseph Krasnitski, of Edison, U.S. Army, Vietnam War—Distinguished Service Medal and Vietnam Service Medal
• First Lt. Paul Lee, of Westfield, U.S. Army, Operation Iraqi Freedom—Distinguished Service Medal
• Lance Cpl. Ildefonso Millan, Jr., of Trenton, U.S. Marine Corps, Operation Iraqi Freedom—Distinguished Service Medal
• Cpl. Henry Murphy, of Avenel, U.S. Marine Corps, Vietnam War—Distinguished Service Medal and Vietnam Service Medal
• Sgt. First Class Larry Rosenthal, of Hamilton, U.S. Army, Operation Enduring Freedom—Distinguished Service Medal
• Machinist Mate Third Class John Ross, of Hamilton, U.S. Navy, Vietnam War—Distinguished Service Medal and Vietnam Service Medal
• Staff Sgt. John Schiller, of East Windsor, U.S. Marine Corps, Vietnam War—Distinguished Service Medal and Vietnam Service Medal
• Cpl. Raymond Wodynski, of Chester, U.S. Marine Corps, Vietnam War—Distinguished Service Medal and Vietnam Service Medal
• Sgt. Ronald Ziegler, of North Brunswick, U.S. Marine Corps, Vietnam War—Distinguished Service Medal and Vietnam Service Medal
• Specialist Five Edward Zelasko, of Monroe Township, U.S. Army, Vietnam War—Distinguished Service Medal and Vietnam Service Medal
• Pvt. First Class Edward Zemanovich, of Carteret, U.S. Army, Korean War—Distinguished Service Medal and Korean Service Medal