State Honors Essex County Veterans for Their Service

EAST ORANGE, NJ — State veterans affairs officials on Monday recognized 10 local veterans for their service during a ceremony at Jewish Vocational Service (JVS) of MetroWest, based in East Orange, which provides job-training programs and services for people with disabilities, veterans, immigrants, and refugees.

State Supervisor of Veterans Services, Joseph Bucco, of the state Department of Military & Veterans Affairs, presented the New Jersey Meritorious Service Medal to several local veterans who participate in JVS programs, as a way of recognizing their sacrifices to the nation. The veterans include: Lee Barnett, Joseph Formola, James E. Gibbs Jr, Ronald K. Green, Timothy A. King, Clarence A. Martin, Thomas B. Smith, Dennis M. Spruill, Samantha S. Washington, Howard J. Woodard. Together, they represent virtually every branch of the military.

The ceremony comes in the week after Veterans Day, when Sen. Cory Booker recognized JVS for its work on behalf of veterans. Booker, in a letter to JVS Veterans Case Manager Ava Reinfeld, said: “This Veterans Day, it is an honor to extend my gratitude for the selfless service and sacrifice that you and your members have given to our nation.”

JVS’s “commitment to our service members has benefited countless soldiers, veterans and their families,” Booker said. “Thank you for your continuous support for those who have given so much to our nation.”

JVS's Healthcare Case Management for Veterans program is funded by the Healthcare Foundation of NJ.

Please see above a photo of Monday's ceremony at JVS. Photo credit: Jewish Vocational Service of MetroWest New Jersey.

Pictured: Front row (L-R): Ava Reinfeld, JVS Healthcare Case Manager for Veterans; Howard Woodard, veteran; Donald Spruill, veteran; Clarence Martin, veteran; Lisa Simmons, JVS Director of Community Employment Services

Back row (L-R): James Gibbs, veteran; Wilfredo Rodriguez, JVS Healthcare Case Worker for Veterans; Joseph Formola, veteran; Ronald Green, veteran; Timothy King, veteran; Thomas Smith, veteran; Robert Hoberman, New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs; Michael Goldberg, JVS Board President; Samantha Washington, veteran and aide to Congressman Donald Payne, Jr.; Joe Bucco, Department of Military and Veteran Affairs of NJ; Michael Andreas, JVS Executive Director; Rebecca Shulman, JVS Senior Program Director