Matawan Woman Honored At Jersey Shore University Medical Center

MATAWAN, NJ — A Matawan woman was honored Tuesday in a special ceremony at Hackensack Meridian Health Jersey Shore University Medical Center, honoring hospital employees who lost a loved one serving in the military.

Donna Nerges, of Matawan, was presented with a folded American flag in honor of her nephew, Sgt. Anthony D. Matteoni of the U.S. Marine Corps. While many employees present had lost loved ones in the armed forces, Nerges' loss was the most recent. Sgt. Matteoni was deployed to Afghanistan in the summer of 2010 and was killed in action on October 1, 2010 in Helmand Province. He was 22. His wife of two years was pregnant with their daughter when he was killed.

“Sgt. Matteoni and all the individuals we remember today have earned our undying gratitude,” said Timothy Hogan, president of Riverview Medical Center and Bayshore Medical Center. “America will never forget them and neither will those of us at Hackensack Meridian Health.”

The event was planned by the Veterans at Hackensack Meridian committee. As part of the ceremony, hospital employee Patricia Wesch, who also serves as Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force, placed a wreath on the chair of the Unknown Soldier.