Eleven Veterans Presented With Morris County Distinguished Service Medals
Veterans, dignitaries, family members, and friends gathered last night at Morris County’s Annual Veterans Day Observance Ceremony, where the Board of County Commissioners presented Morris County Distinguished Military Service Medals to 11 local heroes, who were also honored by state and federal officials.
Retired Admiral James “Frank” Caldwell Jr., former director of the U.S. Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, was among those in attendance, traveling from Annapolis, MD, to support the veterans at the event that took place on the fifth floor of the county’s Administration and Records Building in Morristown.
Commissioner Director Christine Myers led the ceremony alongside Deputy Director Stephen Shaw and Commissioners Thomas Mastrangelo, Tayfun Selen, Deborah Smith, and John Krickus, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. State Sen. Anthony Bucco and Assemblywoman Aura Dunn (Morris-25) presented Joint Senate-Assembly Resolutions, while U.S. Rep. Tom Kean and Willy Tolba, representing U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, delivered Certificates of Honor to each veteran or their family member.
Watch the Full Ceremony
“The County Commissioners have traditionally used the occasion of our Veterans Day Observance to recognize resident veterans by presenting them with the Morris County Distinguished Military Service Medal,” said Director Myers. “These honors are presented to veterans who served honorably and who have helped to make our nation and Morris County a better place to live.”
Before the ceremony started, Director Myers acknowledged the recent passing of three notable New Jersey figures who leave behind lasting legacies: Deacon Ray Chimileski, founder of Operation Chillout to aid homeless veterans; former Assembly Speaker Chuck Haytaian, an advocate for education on genocide and human rights; and Vincent “George” McMann Jr., a former Municipal Court judge and Tank Platoon Leader with the 6th Armored Cavalry Regiment. Judge McMann’s daughter, Superior Court Judge Marcy McMann, attended the ceremony.
View Photos from the 2024 Morris County Veterans Ceremony
The Morris County Distinguished Military Service Medal program began in 1999 to commemorate World War II veterans on the 55th anniversary of D-Day and the liberation of France. Since then, the county has expanded the medals to honor veterans of the Vietnam and Korean wars, as well as other military conflicts. In 2022, Morris County introduced medals for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.
Director Myers invited U.S. Rep. Kean to deliver opening remarks at the ceremony, where he highlighted his commitment to supporting local veterans.
“I am proud to have worked on a bipartisan basis with my colleague Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill to bring a VA Vet Center Community Access Point (CAP) right here to Morris County,” said Kean. “Vet Centers provide a range of lifesaving services for veterans and their families. Our veterans need to know that when they come home, quality care is close to home.”
The federal Veteran Center CAP the congressman was referring to opened in May at the Morris County Veterans Service Office (VSO) located at 540 West Hanover Avenue in Morris Township. Morris County volunteered to share and improve its county VSO space to host the CAP and VA counselors from the Bloomfield Vet Center are available once a week to provide services. Veterans interested in these services should call 973-748-0980 to schedule an appointment.
Read About the 11 Honored Veterans
Among the veterans honored was retired U.S. Navy Captain Charles E. Fegley of Randolph Township, who served from 1957 to 1981 and earned distinguished honors, including the Bronze Star Medal with a “V” Device and the Legion of Merit. Captain Fegley oversaw nuclear power operations, notably leading the PM-3A Nuclear Power Plant at McMurdo Station in Antarctica, where he later helped establish a commemorative monument. His contributions are recognized with a bronze plaque on Observation Hill and the naming of Fegley Glacier.
The ceremony also included tributes to the late Brigadier General Sean Patrick Mulholland, a Montville resident and U.S. Army veteran of the War on Terrorism, who served from 1985 to 2015 and received the Bronze Star Medal, among other accolades. Mulholland passed away in 2018.
Deputy Director Shaw read a letter from retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Glen G. Roussos, who served alongside Mulholland in the 7th Special Forces Group. Roussos described Mulholland as “a warrior who made a difference wherever he went.” Senator Bucco read a letter from General Bryan P. Fenton honoring Mulholland’s legacy and presented a framed copy of the letter to Mulholland’s sister, Sheila.
Also in attendance at the ceremony were Prosecutor Robert Carroll, Deputy Clerk Anna McMahon, County College of Morris (CCM) President Tony Iacono, CCM Trustee James Loveys, Morris Plains Mayor Jason Karr and Chief Warrant Officer Jack Ambrose of the Morris County Sheriff’s Office.
In recognition of Veterans Day coming up, the Morris County Office of Planning & Preservation has updated the Morris County Veterans Compendium Project, an ongoing initiative to document every Morris County soldier’s service dating back to the American Revolution. Learn more about these veterans and their sacrifices through the Official Website of Morris County, NJ.
Photo 1: Commissioner Deputy Director Stephen Shaw presents the Morris County Distinguished Service Medal to retired U.S. Navy Captain Charles E. Fegley of Randolph Township.
Photo 2: Commissioner Thomas Mastrangelo and Derek Oates, U.S. Army Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom.