Morris County Observes Veterans Day 2022

Veterans Day - soldiers in silhouette against an American flag

  

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The Morris County Board of County Commissioners presented Morris County Distinguished Military Service Medals to seven veterans on Wednesday, November 9, 2022 during their annual Veterans Day Observance ceremony, where state and federal representatives also issued honors to the former service members.

State Sen. Anthony Bucco (Morris-25) and Assemblywoman Aura Dunn (Morris-25) presented “Citations of Commendations and Praise” to each of the medal winners, who were accompanied by family and friends. Willy Tolba, the Veterans and Military Affairs Liaison for U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, also joined the ceremony to present honors to the veterans.

 


Veterans Receiving Awards

Veterans Who Publicly Accepted Medals

Richard David Allen, Jr., Washington Township

2022_Allen VeteransCeremony_110922_018.jpg Served with the U.S. Marine Corps as an intelligence specialist during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom from December 2001 to September 2006.

Earned the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Combat Action Ribbon (Iraq, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (Second Award), Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (Iraq), National Defense Medal, Presidential Unit Citation (Navy) and Rifle Marksman badge.

After his service, he worked as a military intelligence instructor, as a UAV camera operator and in commercial banking in Afghanistan. He received an MBA from Centenary University. Mr. Allen is the loving son of Richard and Cheryl, and has a sister, Michelle. He is married to his wife, Tamara and enjoys time with his dogs, Teddy and Chief.  He also enjoys golf and Jets games and participates in marathons.

 

 

Arthur Lloyd Charlton, Boonton

2022_Chalton VeteransCeremony_110922_002.jpgMr. Charlton is a long-time Boontonite and local historian. He served in the U.S. Army Oct. 25, 1945, to July 4, 1947, in the aftermath of World War II, stationed in a hospital in Korea. Processed separation papers for soldiers returning home from war.

He is known to everyone as Lloyd and is listed among others on the Morris County Office of Planning & Preservation’s “The Greatest Generation – Morris County in WWII” website archive outlining the history of more than 3,000 Morris County residents who participated in WWII.

He served as a Tec 4 in the U.S. Army, processing the paperwork of thousands of returning soldiers. Mr. Charlton was shipped to Korea in 1946 and served as the mailman.

He graduated from Boonton High School and, post military, he obtained a degree in Physics from Tufts University. Mr. Charlton worked as an engineer in atomic energy, serving as a test engineer at Picatinny Arsenal in Rockaway Township and additionally with the U.S. Census Bureau.

Mr. Charlton also is an author who became known as Boonton’s local historian.  He and his wife, Terry, published four books: “Artistry of Bob Bogue,” “Stories of a Small Town Boonton USA,” “More Stories of a Small Town Boonton USA” and “Boonton USA WWII Stories.”  They have three children and many grandchildren.

Mr. Charlton has been an Historical Society Trustee, leading the Main Street Historical Walk in Boonton each summer and has acted as curator for the Boonton Museum’s “Boy Scouts Exhibit” and “Artistry of Bob Bogue Exhibit.”  He shares his interest in Boonton’s history with younger generations by giving talks to grammar school children visiting the museum.

Mr. Charlton is listed in the Boonton High School Wall of Fame. He served for more than 50 years with the Boy Scouts, working his way from Silver Beaver to Scout Master. He also served as a Fellow and President with the Rotary Club, working in the group’s Easter Seals program with special needs children through the Boonton Library Garden, which he helped to create and maintain for 10 years.

Mr. Charlton is a recipient of the Citizen of the Year award in Boonton and Citizen of the Year Award from the YMCA of Morris County.

His books were added to a time capsule buried at Boonton’s Mayor’s Park on Sept. 23, 2017, during Boonton’s 150th Anniversary Celebration. Then-U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen placed the books into the capsule, which will be opened in 2117.

The veteran is a loving husband and father of 3 children.

He also volunteered with Morris County’s Meals-on-Wheels program, and he is a lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church, where he served as Deacon and Elder, and participated in the singing group the “Presbyaires" from 1994 to 2006. An official photographer for the Garden Club, Mr. Charlton takes a special interest in the Ann Charlton Memorial Garden, where he works several times a year with special needs children.

His local volunteer services have also included the Little League and nine years on the Boonton School Board.

 

Carl “Mike” Cabanas, Morristown

2022_Cabanas VeteransCeremony_110922_024.jpg A veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, he served in the U.S. Army and the New Jersey Army National Guard between Oct. 1, 2000, to July 21, 2013.

Mr. Cabanas is a recipient of Army Commendation Medal (twice), Purple Heart, Army Achievement Medal (three times), Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (twice) Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Humanitarian Service Medal.

He grew up in Chatham Township and, after graduating from Chatham High School in 1999, he enlisted in the U.S Army on Oct. 1, 2000, serving three years at Fort Campbell, in Kentucky with the 101st Airborne Division. It was during that period Mr. Cabanas was deployed to Iraq from 2002 to 2003, and left active duty to join the New Jersey Army National Guard in late 2003. He was deployed to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba in 2004 and remained until 2005 as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Upon returning to New Jersey, Mr. Cabanas enrolled at Rutgers University and entered the ROTC Scarlet Knight Battalion program, graduating in 2008 with a BA in Political Science and being commissioned an officer in the United States Army’s infantry, where he served an additional five years of active duty.

At the start of those five years, Mr. Cabanas had attended U.S. Ranger school and was assigned to Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, reporting to the 2nd Battalion of the 27th Infantry Regiment, commonly called the Wolfhounds. He Was deployed to Kunar, Afghanistan from 2011 to 2012, serving as a mortar platoon leader where he led the battalion’s several infantry mortar detachments across a vast area of operation.

It was mid-2011 that he was wounded by sniper fire during combat operations.

Upon returning to Hawaii, Mr. Cabanas concluded his service in 2013, retiring at the rank of Captain and returning to Chatham Township where he fulfilled a goal of becoming a law enforcement officer. In 2014, he entered the Morris County Public Safety Training Academy and graduated with the 84th Basic Police Class of June 2015, when he simultaneously earned his Masters degree in HR management for law-enforcement and began working as a police officer in Springfield Township.

From 2014 to 2016, Mr. Cabanas also served as a volunteer fire fighter in Chatham Township. Mr. Cabanas had recently been employed with the Middlesex College Police Department, however he is now a member of the Newark Police Department.

 

 

Tarek Al-Aydi, Morristown

2022_Al Aydi VeteransCeremony_110922_030.jpg A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corp who served during the War on Terror in Operation Iraqi Freedom from Dec. 28, 1993, to March 12, 1998.

Mr. Al-Aydi was living in Akron, Ohio when he entered the U.S. Marine Corps on Dec. 28, 1993. He served as a Sergeant in the War on Terror in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and for his service he received the National Defense Medal and the Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

Upon being honorably discharged, Mr. Al-Aydi went on to earn his Associates Degree in Pre-Med Dental from Broward Community College as well as a BA in Communication from Florida Atlantic University in 2000.

He has worked as a technical sales specialist with Eli Lilly & Co., Dentsply Inc., Philips, Thermo Fisher Scientific and is currently employed by Nano Temper Technologies. He has received the Raising the Bar Award and the Spot Award during his career.

Mr. Al-Aydi is a husband and father of five children. He volunteers as an assistant Scoutmaster, fundraises for Toys for Tots and has volunteered with the American Red Cross.

 

Stephen Dickson Reynolds, Flanders

2022_Reynolds VeteransCeremony_110922_014.jpg A Vietnam Era veteran of the U.S. Army who served a tour of duty from Oct. 13, to 1968 to Aug. 1970.

Mr. Reynolds was living Douglaston, New York when he entered the U.S. Army during the Vietnam Era on Oct. 13, 1968. He served with the 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment and the First Infantry Division (The Big Red One).

Mr. Reynolds was a tank unit commander who reached the rank of Second Lieutenant, and he also served with the 3rd Squadron, 5th Armored Cavalry and 9th Infantry Division.

For his service, he received the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 Device, the Vietnam Service Medal, two Overseas Service Bars, and a Bronze Star Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters.

He had attended Dickinson College prior to entry into the military, earning a BA in English in June 1968, and he earned his MBA at New York University in 1976 after his military service. He worked as a corporate banking executive. 

 

Lawrence Leonard Walsh, Mendham

2022_Walsh VeteransCeremony_110922_036.jpg

Mr. Walsh was living in Camp Hill, PA when entered the U.S. Army in May 1984, serving in the 5th Division. He was a mechanic at Fort Polk, Louisiana and also serviced in the 2nd Infantry Division in the Republic of Korea and the 7th Infantry Division at Fort Ord, California.

He attended Airborne School and Ranger School, and he received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for his service during Operation Just Cause in Panama.

Mr. Walsh also received the Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, a Parachutist Badge, an Air Assault Badge and the National Defense Service Medal.

Following his service, he became a sales and marketing leader in pharmaceuticals, and he is now employed as an Outreach Specialist for Disabled Veterans at the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

Mr. Walsh earned a BA in Chemistry at Susquehanna University as well as an MBA from Golden Gate University. He is active with VFW Post 7858 in Bernardsville.

He and his wife, Kelley, have been married for 30 years with three children: Brian, who is a senior in high school, and daughters Tara and Jaclyn, both of whom have graduated college.

Mr. Walsh volunteers with the Mendham Patriots Recreation Basketball Program and is a board member. He enjoys Playing basketball, spending time with his family and cycling.  His cycling led him on a cross-country trek from California to Florida, and he raced from Oregon to Virginia

Mr. Walsh has published two books on his cycling adventures

 

Timothy Nathaniel McCloe, Morristown

2022_McCloe VeteransCeremony_110922_009 (1).jpg U.S. Marine Corps Veteran of the Cold War era who served in 1979.

Mr. McCloe was Living in Wilkes-Barre, PA when entered service June 25, 1979.

He later attended school with targeted interests in commercial arts and architectural design.

He has worked in the dairy industry, with iron works, as a machinist and as a painter.

Mr. McCloe is interested in chess.

 

 

 

Veterans Who Privately Accepted Medals

Brian Lamar Jones, Long Valley

United States Army logo A veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, Mr. Jones served in the U.S. Army from July 7, 1999 to February 23,2013

Living in Piscataway when entered the military, Mr. Jones served in a designated imminent danger zone.

He received the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with a Campaign Star, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal with a Campaign Star, the Army Service Ribbon and an Overseas Service Ribbon.

Mr. Jones is employed as the lead security guard of Picatinny Arsenal, and he is attending Rutgers Business School as an accounting major. He has been married for 11 years and is the father of three boys, ages 3, 5 and 7.  Mr. Jones enjoys exercising, Youth Football and reading.

 

Richard Neal Jones, Morristown

United States Navy logo A veteran of Vietnam, Mr. Jones served in the U.S. Navy from February 1969 to December 1972.

He was stationed in the waters off Vietnam and is the recipient of the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device. Mr. Jones attended Damage Control “A” School and Firefighting School, and post service he was involved in the trucking industry for 37 years before retiring in 2012.

He is an active woodworker with his own business and is a model railroader who enjoys biking.

 

Bryan Saavedra, Morris Plains

United States Army logo A veteran of the War on Terror, Mr. Saavedra served in the U.S. Army from Aug. 20, 2007, to Oct. 19, 2011.

He is a recipient of the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, an Overseas Service Ribbon, and the NATO Medal.

Mr. Saavedra participated in Avenger System Repair Course, Combat Lifesaver Training Course and Combative Course while in service.

He is the loving husband of his wife, Courtney.

 

George C. Marmo, Montville (honors issued posthumously)

United States Army logo A veteran of World War II, Mr. Marmo served in the U.S. Army under General George S. Patton from Dec. 21, 1942, to Nov. 9, 1945,

Mr. Marmo was a cannoneer and, briefly, a tank commander in a M-36 tank destroyer in Europe where he loaded, charged, fired, and reloaded 90 mm guns on the artillery vehicle. He supervised four soldiers in the tank.

He was the recipient of the Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge, World War II Victory Medal, the Purple Heart, the American Theatre Ribbon and the Euro-African-Mid-East Ribbon with three Bronze Stars.

After his service, he married and had three daughters, and worked in the insurance business. He passed in 1989 at the age of 67.

 

His family has accepted his medal and certificate of honor.

 

Photo Album of Veterans Day Event

Morris County Honors Veterans


Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022 Marks The United States Marine Corps 247th Birthday

Morris County USMC

Below is a list of people connected to Morris County who served in the USMC, the conflicts during which they served and, where known, the dates on which some were killed in action.

The list is far from complete, and the Morris County Office of Planning and Preservation invites anyone who with the names and histories, even photos, of others who served to contact historian Jan Williams at [email protected]

Civil War

  • William F. Datow


Spanish-American War

  • Patrick Maher

The Philippines

  • Alonso Pierson Lawrence

WWI

  • Edward Arkie
  • Theodore Herbert Blatt
  • Joseph Paul Cosgrove
  • Frank Hobart Davis
  • Dr. James Brown Griswald (October 25, 1917)
  • John Groff  “Grand Old Man of the Marine Corps”
  • W. Campbell Harris
  • George Hartman
  • Rudolph David Knapp
  • Sidney Jacob Sliker
  • Herbert Smith (September 15, 1918)
  • Robert Grey Snyder (July 19, 1918)
  • William Rice Spann (October 13, 1918)

WWII

  • Norman Elmer Abrahams (May 15, 1945)
  • George Adderley
  • Herbert John Adickes
  • Ryland Anderson (photo)
  • Louis Patrick Andreorio
  • James Clifford Anglum
  • Joseph J. Aquilino
  • Robert M. Aughey
  • Anthony Babecka
  • Joseph Baranski
  • Samuel Barnes
  • Francis John Bednar (March 10, 1945)
  • Robert Hamilton Bellars
  • Morty Best
  • Andrew Harvey Bladt (March 11, 1945)
  • Charles Allan Blazure
  • Guy F. Boyle
  • Robert Bromley
  • Robert Peter Brundage (May 3, 1945) 
  • Thomas Joseph Bubryckie
  • Frederick Daniel Budd (February 23, 1945)
  • Kenneth W. Carroll
  • Thomas Chiarella
  • Stephen Chipko
  • Rosario Cocuzza
  • Walter George Critchley (November 20, 1944)
  • Ralph J. D'Alconzo
  • Robert E. Daniher
  • Earle M. Davis
  • William Dodds (May 15, 1945)
  • Louis J. De Fronzo
  • Robert J. Denman
  • Charles Edwards Dobbins
  • Henry Downer
  • Hugh B. Eastburn (February 1, 1944)
  • Dorothy Clara Ennis (photo)
  • Robert Paul Epprecht
  • Carmine Ezzo
  • Nicholas R. Fennallie (February 28, 1945)
  • Roger Salmon Fichtner
  • Vincent E. Fields (March 6, 1945)
  • Leonard W. Foster
  • John Arthur Ganley
  • Jacob Gartenberg
  • Thomas D. Ginefra
  • Russell Giordano
  • Carl Edwin Gosline
  • John Grabowski
  • George Robert Greffe
  • Anthony M. Herda
  • Ervin M. Hoag
  • Leonard D. Holland
  • Oscar Julius Horn (July 22, 1943)
  • Edward R. Hornbeck (February 27, 1945)
  • Robert Huxam (Missing in Action)
  • Howard A. Janas
  • Eugene C. Jewell
  • George Johns
  • Charles M. Johnson
  • J. Gilbert Jones (Missing in Action)
  • William S. Keller
  • Doris Ann Kerwin
  • John A. Kiser
  • Sherman R. Knevals
  • Joseph Francis Krasco
  • Alex Lazorisak
  • Lester Lehman
  • Dominic Licciardiello
  • Clyde Luther Lobb
  • William Robert Loewen
  • Everett Mabey
  • Carl S. Mangum
  • James Vincent Manno, Jr. (September 15, 1944)
  • Charles Markle
  • James W. Maw (1944)
  • John F. Michenfelder
  • Roger Anderson Mills
  • Pat Anthony Maioran, Jr. March 2, 1945
  • Donald P. Molloy
  • Edward P. Moran
  • Glenn P. Moore
  • Richard G. Mulholland
  • Donald D. Murphy
  • Walter K. Mutz
  • Samuel Nahaczewski
  • Lawrence Hager Naughright
  • George Ondish
  • Philip J. Ostopo
  • Horace O. Pease
  • George E. Peters (photo)
  • Irving Vanness Petry (March 1, 1945)
  • Waldemar F. Piecyk (February 21, 1945)
  • William A. Richards
  • Charles J. Riley
  • Harry L. Robbins
  • Stanley Rubin
  • James Salerno (photo)
  • Allen Sande
  • Dominick Sapio (March 2, 1945)
  • Alphonse William Scerbo
  • Robert Watson Shupe
  • John V. Stilwell (September 18, 1944)
  • Paul R. Stirrat
  • Robert Douglas Sturtevant
  • William D. Sullivan
  • Fred Terwilleger
  • Robert Trimble
  • Emmanuel Carmen Ubertaccio
  • Ralph Valentino
  • James J. Walsh
  • Walter S. Wayne
  • James Cave Webber
  • Paul V. Welsh
  • John Williams (December 21, 1943)
  • John J. Wrobleski
  • Joseph Andrew Zayac, Jr. (May 4, 1945)
  • Christian H. Zeiler

Cold War

  • Richard Barry
  • Lawrence C. Forno
  • Joseph Leal
  • John J. Rich

Korea

  • Arthur Joseph Abene
  • Felix F. Albano
  • Robert T. Baker
  • Eugene E. Barnish
  • Henry Barzda (photo)
  • Joseph E. Barry
  • Charles W. Beebe
  • Henry E. Bellene
  • John J. Bevacqua
  • Donald Leroy Bixlar
  • Charles Allan Blazure
  • Charles R. Bohnenberger
  • Guy F. Boyle
  • Arthur J. Bramley
  • Marshall Lindley Bush (October 30, 1953) photo
  • Hector Albert Cafferata Medal of Honor
  • James Crupi
  • William C. Cunningham
  • Albert F. Dalena
  • Daniel Danzi
  • Carmine Della Vecchia
  • John Donnarumma, Jr.
  • George Wesley Doty, Jr. (December 1, 1950)
  • Charles R. Dyon, Jr.
  • George Egerer, Jr.
  • Thomas Carl Estwick (December 3, 1950)
  • Robert P. Freeman
  • Frederick J. Freiwald
  • Salvatore J. Gentile
  • Paul J. Giovinazzo
  • Peter J. Gogo
  • Edward G. Hoffman
  • Bruce Edwin Jensen
  • George Johns
  • Edward Joseph Koster (December 4,1952)
  • George Walter Lawrence, Jr. (November 30, 1950)
  • Alex Lazorisak
  • Robert Franklin Lefferts
  • Ralph A. Loveys
  • Richard James Lutz, Sr.
  • William Spencer McCue
  • William Thomas Miller
  • John E. Monahan
  • Frank Joseph Mozes
  • Thomas Mullen
  • Robert Stephen Ofsonka (April16, 1951)
  • William A. Pedota
  • William E. Pierson
  • Hugh Platt Jr.
  • Joe Oliver Replogle
  • William Douglas Rhodes (February 18, 1953)
  • Daniel Frances Rogers (October 27, 1952)
  • Kenneth Rohiff
  • Earl M. Rosen
  • Roger C. Rousch
  • Robert Louis Stuono
  • Melvin C. Swayze
  • Irwin Arnold Trauth
  • Raymond John Tuttle (February 10, 1954)
  • Alexander G. Wagnecz
  • Earle Wallo
  • Raymond Paul Westerdahl

Vietnam

  • Russell J. Allaman
  • Walter Lee Babbitt, Jr. (May 28, 1967)
  • Thomas M. Bacon
  • John Douglas Barat
  • Frank S. Barna
  • Richard Beck
  • Robert Blaszak
  • Eugene H. Brown
  • Henry John Broxmeier
  • Emerson Crooks
  • Daniel J. Daly
  • Mario Frank DeMattio
  • Harry L. Finkle
  • James J. Gervasio
  • Nicholas Gileta
  • Carl F. Gladish
  • David R. Gravel
  • John F. Hague
  • Philip Howard Hess (December 22, 1966)
  • Raymond E. Hill
  • Thomas Robert Ike (May 25, 1967)
  • Vincent Lawrence Jacobs (January 7, 1969)
  • Steven A. Kovacs
  • Robert Bruce Leith
  • Anthony J. Locascio
  • Frank Lochli
  • Harold Joseph Mathews (September 11, 1968)
  • James Michael Mathews (June 18, 1968)
  • James F. Megaro
  • Edward Francis Miglarese
  • Henry James Miller
  • Raymond T. Perkins
  • Louis Gene Petrone (January 7, 1968)
  • Frank Poolas
  • Richard Porzig
  • Harlan Carl Rilk (September 16, 1967)
  • John Michael Salitsky
  • Joseph C. Sanchelli
  • Michael Joseph Sellitto March 26, 1969
  • Robert John Slattery (July 6, 1967)
  • Roger W. Tasnady
  • Richard J. Tilney
  • Thomas H. Westfield (He remembers his friend, James Stanley Childers of California, United States Marine Corps, was Killed in Action February 15, 1967.)
  • David Ashton Williams

Somalia

  • Anthony J. Serra

War on Terror

  • Richard Matthew Febbi

Gulf War

  • Christian M. Benedetto, Jr.
  • Terence M. Coletta
  • Marc Robert Dilley
  • Schussler Mina Ferguson
  • Matthew Goritski
  • David J. Maywood
  • Peter J. O'Hagan, Jr.
  • Raymond J. Vito
  • J. Donald York

Iraq

  • Hunter Alarcon
  • Steven Albert
  • Adan Albrecht
  • Robert J. Barone
  • Michael T. Bergeron
  • Robert Bracero
  • Donald Steven Brown (October 25,2006)
  • Kenneth Brown
  • Giancarlo Bruzzese
  • William James Carroll, IV
  • Kyle Chappell
  • Terence M. Coletta
  • Christopher Benedict Cosgrove, III (October 1, 2006)
  • Jason C. Crowell
  • Drew W. Daddio
  • Thomas J. Denicola
  • Ryan Edward Doltz (June 5, 2004)
  • Jermaine Dunham
  • Anthony R. Eresman
  • Donald J. Fantasia
  • John H. Finkeldie
  • Bryan Flanagan
  • James Gervasio
  • Eric J. Hanna
  • Velma D. Hodge
  • Robert R. Koetzner
  • Ryan Lind
  • Timothy H. Masker
  • Frederick B. Orejola
  • Mark Peer
  • David Pinero
  • Russel Redhead
  • Gary Salvano
  • Jonathan Shaw
  • Michael Sprung
  • Vincent M. Sullivan (July 23, 2004)
  • Richard Tichenor, III
  • Andy Van Orden
  • James D. Van Valen
  • Jessica Velez
  • Matthew E. Villegas
  • Remigiusz Wojdala
  • John Thomas Wroblewski (April 6, 2004)
  • William Yarlaski

Afghanistan

  • Aaron Alonso
  • Pablo Fallos
  • Samuel E. Fendler
  • Harry Gitlitz
  • Christian Hormaza
  • Wilmar Andres Hormaza
  • Michael W. Juhls
  • Scott Moncavio