Morris County Honors the Veterans of Cedar Crest

Published on February 27, 2026

More than 100 veterans, family members and dignitaries gathered inside the chapel of the Cedar Crest Senior Living Community in Pequannock Township yesterday, where 21 residents received Morris County Distinguished Military Service Medals for service during conflicts dating back to World War II.

Watch the Full Ceremony

The ceremony, led by Morris County Commissioner Director Stephen H. Shaw, as well as Commissioners Thomas Mastrangelo and Tayfun Selen, was coordinated in partnership with the Cedar Crest Veterans Club. Assemblymembers Brian Bergen and Jay Webber, who represent New Jersey’s 26^th Legislative District, presented Joint Senate-Assembly Resolutions, and County Sheriff James M. Gannon and County Clerk Ann Grossi presented certificates of recognition. The commissioners awarded the Distinguished Military Service Medals, county certificates and 250th anniversary baseball caps donated by the Morris County Tourism Bureau to each honoree.

View Photos of the Ceremony

“We believe it is our duty not only to honor those who served, but to support them -- not just on occasions like this, but every single day,” said Director Shaw, noting the ceremony coincided with Presidents’ Day and the nation’s Semiquincentennial.

Director Shaw highlighted recent expansions to the county’s Veterans Services Office, which now includes four service officers and additional support staff. Beginning this month, the office is offering weekly on-site availability at the County College of Morris Veterans Resource Center, in addition to regular services at the Morris County Veterans Services Office, 540 W. Hanover Ave., Morris Township. As part of its continued outreach, a veterans services officer will return to Cedar Crest for an information session at the Veterans Club meeting March 12 at 7:30 p.m.

Commissioner Selen, who immigrated to the United Stated 29 years ago, thanked the veterans for protecting the freedoms that create opportunity in America.

“Without people like you protecting this nation and all it has to offer to free-loving people in this world, my chance in a lifetime never would have been possible,” said Commissioner Selen. “You are America’s true patriots, and I personally thank you.”

The keynote address was delivered by Asm. Bergen, a U.S. Army combat veteran, West Point and former Apache helicopter pilot who earned the Bronze Star and Combat Action Badge for his service in Iraq. He reflected on the shared bond among veterans across generations and pledged continued advocacy in his role as a legislator.

“Every veteran in this room and every spouse of a veteran, you are truly cared about,” said Asm. Bergen. “I deeply care about you, and the members of this county who put this program together deeply care about you.”

Before honoring each veteran, Commissioner Mastrangelo provided some background on the Morris County Distinguished Military Service Medals. The program began in 1999 to honor World War II veterans on the 55th anniversary of D-Day and the liberation of France from Nazi occupation, and later expanded to include service Vietnam, Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan and other conflicts.

See Details of All Our Honored Veterans & Their Biographies

The veterans honored were: Brian Alberse; Fred C. Beavers; Glen Bertholf; Harold J. Campbell; Ira D. Clemens; Richard Cohen; James Gage; Roger A. Gengaro; Howard A. Goldman; Patrick Granowski; Frank Grehl; Leland J. Katz; James F. Keegan; Walter Maher; James J. McDonald; Joseph B. Paperman; Andrew TerWaarbeek; Gerard A. Tutzauer; Stephen Vallario; William Vanderburg; and Jerome Winnick.

The ceremony opened with a presentation of the colors by members of the Cedar Crest Veterans Club. Remarks were also delivered by Cedar Crest Executive Director Ryan Fitzpatrick, Director of Resident Life Glenn Howard and Veterans Club President Joseph Paperman. Local officials in attendance included Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, County Administrator Deena Leary, Assistant County Administrator Brian Murray, Pequannock Township Deputy Mayor Melissa Florance-Lynch, Township Administrator Adam Brewer and Chief of Police Dan Comune.

The ceremony concluded with a reception in the Cedar Crest Woodland Commons Conference Center, where honorees and their guests enjoyed cake and coffee.

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Photo 1: (l-r) Sheriff James Gannon (cropped), County Clerk Ann Grossi, Asm. Jay Webber, Morris County Veterans Service Officer Donald Galante (back), Asm. Brian Bergen, Commissioner Tayfun Selen, Fred C. Beavers (veteran) (front), Morris County Veterans Service Officer Andrew Cornwallis (back, behind Director Shaw), Commissioner Director Stephen Shaw, Morris County Veterans Service Officer Jason Leffler and Commissioner Thomas Mastrangelo (podium).

Photo 2: (front, l-r) Commissioner Thomas Mastrangelo, Commissioner Tayfun Selen and Joseph Paperman (veteran). (back, l-r) Morris County Veterans Service Officer Andrew Cornwallis, Morris County Veterans Service Officer Jason Leffler and Commissioner Director Stephen Shaw at podium.

Photo 3: (front, l-r) Asm. Brian Bergen, James Gage (veteran) and Commissioner Director Stephen H. Shaw. (Back, left) Morris County Veterans Service Officer Jessica Tomalo. (Back, right) Morris County Commissioner Thomas Mastrangelo.

Photo 4: (l-r) Deputy Chief of Detectives Jan-Michael Monrad, Morris County Prosecutor’s Office (MCPO); Chief of Detectives Robert McNally, MCPO; Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll; Sheriff James M. Gannon; Asm. Brian Bergen; Cedar Crest Executive Director Ryan Fitzpatrick; County Clerk Ann Grossi; Cedar Crest Director of Resident Life Glenn Howard; Commissioner Director Stephen H. Shaw; Asm. Jay Webber; Commissioner Thomas J. Mastrangelo; and Pequannock Township Chief of Police Dan Comune.