Morris County Holds Memorial Day Observance in Nation’s 250th Year
Published on May 21, 2026
Nine Local Veterans Honored at Annual Ceremony
Nine local veterans were presented Morris County Distinguished Military Service Medals by the Morris County Board of County Commissioners at the county’s annual Memorial Day Observance yesterday outside the historic Morris County Courthouse in Morristown.
The ceremony included a special tribute to Continental Army soldiers who lost their lives at Jockey Hollow nearly 250 years ago.
Check Out Photos of the Ceremony
“As we gather during this historic 250th anniversary year for our nation, we are reminded that the liberties we cherish were secured not by words alone, but by the courage and sacrifice of generations of Americans who believed this nation was worth defending,” said Commissioner Director Stephen Shaw. “Here in Morris County, that legacy is woven into our history, from the Revolutionary War encampments that shaped our early identity to the service members and families who stand with us today.”
“A Look Back on Morris County’s First Fallen Heroes”
Deputy Director John Krickus, a retired U.S. Marine Corps veteran, led the annual “Look Back on a Fallen Morris County Hero” tribute, focusing this year on the 56 known Continental soldiers who died during the “Hard Winter” encampment at Jockey Hollow. He specifically recognized two soldiers, Jacob Johnson of present-day Parsippany and Dr. Jonathan Horton of Roxbury, both Morris County residents who died during the encampment.
The keynote address was delivered by Vietnam veteran James Ferguson of Mountain Lakes, who served in the U.S. Navy from 1963 to 1966, including duty aboard swift boats patrolling coastal waters and rivers in Vietnam. Ferguson reflected on the meaning of Memorial Day, the sacrifices of those who never returned home and the importance of supporting today’s service members and veterans.
“We pause to remember and thank the countless heroes who gave their lives in service to their country,” Ferguson said. “I hope and trust that all Americans will continue to appreciate the service of those who wear the uniform of our great nation.”
See Details of All the Honored Veterans & Their Biographies
The veterans honored on May 20, 2026, included:
Thomas A. Walbridge, Washington Township
George Anthony Arathorn, Mount Olive
Joel Patrick Branosky, Harding Township
John A. Hendricks, Hanover Township
Lee Karosen
Francesco “Frank” A. Piserchia, Lincoln Park
Dominick Sabol, Pequannock
Norus Achmetov, Mountain Lakes
Herbert M. Teisch, Pequannock
The ceremony opened with a bagpipe performance by Chief Robert McNally of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office as the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Joint Honor Guard, led by Capt. Walter Rawa, raised and lowered the flag on the front lawn of the historic Morris County Courthouse. The Lakeview School of Denville Select Choir performed the national anthem and “God Bless America,” and Father Lukasz Wnuk of St. Virgil Parish in Morris Plains delivered the invocation.
The observance concluded with a wreath-laying by Vietnam veteran Emerson Crooks of VFW Post 7333 in Randolph Township, followed by “Amazing Grace” on bagpipes by Chief McNally, a 21-gun salute by the Sheriff’s Office Joint Honor Guard and “Taps” by Donald Soutar of Bugles Across America.
Honors were also presented by representatives of state Sen. Anthony Bucco and Assemblywoman Aura Dunn of the 25th Legislative District, as well as representatives of U.S. Reps. Tom Kean Jr. and Analilia Mejia. Assemblyman Brian Bergen of the 26th Legislative District also provided certificates, which were presented to veterans from the district by Morris County Veterans Services Officers.
Watch the Facebook Livestream of the Event
The Morris County Distinguished Military Service Medals are unique to the county and were first issued in 1999 to honor World War II veterans on the 55th anniversary of the D-Day invasion and liberation of France from Nazi occupation. The program later expanded to include veterans of Korea and Vietnam and, in 2022, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Since the program began, more than 10,000 medals have been presented to veterans and their families.
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Photo 1: Veterans applauding, from left, Jim Cavanaugh, ceremonial officer of American Legion Post 59 in Morristown, and veterans who received Morris County Distinguished Military Service Medals at the ceremony: Norus Achmetov, Dominick Sabol and John A. Hendricks.
Photo 2: Morris County Commissioner Deborah Smith poses with veteran Lee Karosen who received a Morris County Distinguished Military Service Medal at the ceremony.
Photo 3: Veteran Norus Achmetov poses with Morris County Commissioner Director Stephen H. Shaw upon receiving his Morris County Distinguished Military Service Medal.
Photo 4: Capt. Walter Rawa of the Morris County Sheriff’s Office (left) and Vietnam veteran Emerson Crooks, who laid the wreath during the ceremony.