Morris County Honors Eight Veterans, Marine Corps’ 250th Anniversary

Published on November 06, 2025

Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient Celebrated as “Morris County’s Veteran of Valor”

Eight local veterans were honored last night by the Morris County Board of County Commissioners at their annual Veterans Day Observance Ceremony, where they also celebrated the 250th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps and paid tribute to a Civil War Medal of Honor recipient.

The event was held in the county Administration and Records Building in Morristown, where Commissioner Director Tayfun Selen welcomed guests and shared the county’s ongoing support for veterans and their families. Joining the County Commissioners were state Sen. Anthony Bucco and Assemblywoman Aura K. Dunn (Morris-25); Willy Tolba, representing U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill and J.D. Bryden, representing U.S. Rep. Tom Kean Jr., along with mayors and councilmembers from towns throughout Morris County.

Sen. Anthony Bucco, Director Tayfun Selen and Jack B. Bosma. Deputy Director Stephen Shaw is at the podium.

“We believe it is our duty to support those who served, to honor their sacrifices and express our deepest gratitude for their service, not only on Veterans Day, but throughout the entire year!” said Director Selen. “To all veterans here and across the nation, thank you for your service, courage and dedication to something greater than yourself. May God bless you, your families and our country.”

View More Photos from the Ceremony

Commissioner John Krickus, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, commemorated the Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary by presenting a Morris County Resolution of Honor to Sgt. Joseph Tortola and Staff Sgt. Rafael E. Vallejos of the 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve stationed at Picatinny Arsenal.

Commissioner Thomas Mastrangelo, Deputy Director Stephen Shaw, Commissioner John Krickus, Ssgt. Rafael E. Vallejos, Sgt. Joseph Tortola, Director Tayfun Selen, Commissioners Deborah Smith and Christine Myers.

“The Marine Corps fearsome reputation was paid for at a high price -- by the lives and limbs of Marines over these 250 years, from the battle of Princeton to the Kabul Airport. For us Marine veterans and for those who still serve, our most important tradition is to never forget their sacrifice and to honor it by always conducting ourselves in a manner as to never bring disrepute to the Corps. Once a Marine, always Marine,” said Commissioner Krickus.

A special “Morris County Veteran of Valor” tribute was led by Deputy Director Stephen Shaw, honoring Cpl. Charles Fern Hopkins, Sr., a Boonton native and Civil War hero awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery at the Battle of Gaines Mill in 1862.

Following that tribute, Morris County Distinguished Military Service Medals were individually presented by the commissioners to eight local veterans representing diverse branches and eras of service. Sen. Bucco and Asw. Dunn additionally awarded each veteran joint state Senate-Assembly resolutions, while representatives of U.S. Reps. Kean and Sherrill presented certificates of honor.

Among the honored veterans were:

Jack B. Bosma, Kinnelon
Vincent J. DeCaro, Randolph Township
Christopher Gardner, Morristown
Charles E. Johnson, Dover
Robert Litrio, Hanover Township
Ronald Pierantozzi, Pequannock Township
Aniceto Rivera, Boonton Township
Samuel Y. Yuen, Randolph Township

Full biographies of the honorees may be found at the Official Website of Morris County, N.J. including additional information on Cpl. Hopkins and additional photos from the ceremony.

During the tribute to Civil War hero Hopkins, Deputy Director Shaw noted he earned his Medal of Honor by carrying a wounded soldier to safety amid heavy crossfire and continuing his fight in the battle despite being struck and severely injured. After returning to duty for nearly two more years, Hopkins was captured by Confederate soldiers at the Battle of the Wilderness in 1864 and imprisoned in Libby, Andersonville and Florence prisons.

Charles Maraziti accepting the resolution of honor from Deputy Director Stephen Shaw. Sen. Anthony Bucco and Asw. Aura Dunn are standing between them.

He endured starvation, disease and the brutal conditions for which each of those open-air stockades went down in infamy. Yet, he ultimately survived, falling into a coma before the war’s end and miraculously awakening three months later to learn of the Union’s victory.

Hopkins went on to serve in many public roles in Morris County -- including Morris County freeholder, state assemblyman, Boonton mayor and chief of the Boonton Fire Department. He became known throughout the community as the “Grand Old Man of Boonton.”

Charlie Maraziti, Hopkins’ great-grandson, attended the ceremony with his wife, Pat, and brother, Joseph, and accepted a resolution of honor from the commissioners recognizing his great-grandfather’s service. Sen. Bucco, a lifelong Boonton resident and volunteer with the Boonton Fire Department since 1980, also presented a resolution from the state legislature.

During last night’s event, Director Selen highlighted several veteran initiatives undertaken by Morris County, including additional staff and expanded space for the Morris County Veterans Services Office. He also noted this year’s participation in the national “Operation Green Light for Veterans” campaign taking place from Nov. 4 – Nov. 11, and the creation of The Healing Garden for Veterans in partnership with the Morris County Park Commission and Veterans Valor at Frelinghuysen Arboretum.

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Photo 1: (l-r) Commissioners Thomas Mastrangelo and John Krickus; Ssgt. Rafael E. Vallejos; Samuel Y. Yuen; Asw. Aura Dunn; Christopher Gardner; Aniceto Rivera; Jack B. Bosma (center, seated); Vincent J. DeCaro; Robert Litrio; Ronald Pierantozzi; Charles E. Johnson; Sgt. Joseph Tortola; Commissioner Deborah Smith; Deputy Director Stephen Shaw (back row); Director Tayfun Selen; Commissioner Christine Myers; Morris County Veterans Services Officer Jason Leffler (back row); Sen. Anthony M. Bucco and James Cavanaugh, ceremonial officer of American Legion Post 59 in Morristown.

Photo 2: (l-r) Sen. Anthony Bucco, Director Tayfun Selen and Jack B. Bosma. Deputy Director Stephen Shaw is at the podium.

Photo 3:Commissioner Thomas Mastrangelo, Deputy Director Stephen Shaw, Commissioner John Krickus, Ssgt. Rafael E. Vallejos, Sgt. Joseph Tortola, Director Tayfun Selen, Commissioners Deborah Smith and Christine Myers.

Photo 4: Charles Maraziti accepting the resolution of honor from Deputy Director Stephen Shaw. Sen. Anthony Bucco and Asw. Aura Dunn are standing between them.