State and local officials joined 19 veterans and their families at the Cherry Hill Mall on April 13 to honor the men and women for dedicated military service.
Director of Camden County Veterans Affairs Ted Gallagher welcomed the crowd, citing how proud he was to be a part of an event honoring veterans at the state and local levels.
“I’ve been the director of Veterans Affairs in Camden County for the past several years, but I have never actually been to a ceremony like this, where both the state and county (work together) for a veteran medal ceremony …” he said.
“What I have found over the years is that no matter what branch of the service, they (veterans) are all very proud of their service.”
Army veteran and township resident Luisa A Sanchez was among those honored. She also gave the opening remarks to the crowd in place of Walter Nall, who was unable to attend.
“I am an active worker for the Department of Veterans Affairs, and as Ted mentioned, I retired from active duty military,” Sanchez noted. “But I am still serving our veterans.
“This community (of vets) still needs help and still needs to be recognized.”
Commissioner Melinda Kane was the event’s keynote speaker. Her son, Jeremy M. Kane, a Cherry Hill veteran and Marine, was killed in action during the Iraq War. Jeremy’s brother Benjamin accepted the posthumous award.
Others honored were:
- William Bauerle, Pennsauken, Marines
- James S. Brophy, Jr., Atco, Army
- Walter J. Brown, Camden, Navy
- George W. Carmona, Collingswood, Navy
- Samuel J. Ciriaco, Bellmawr, Army
- Richard P. Colton, Jr., Voorhees, Army
- Angelo R. Iossa, Cherry Hill, Army
- Vanessa Jenkins, Lindenwold, Air Force
- Jeremy M. Kane, Cherry Hill, Marines
- Jobani J. Lopez, Pennsauken, Army
- John E. McArdle, III, Sicklerville, Navy
- Raymond J. Northan, III, Sicklerville, Army
- Michael Nuciglio, Southampton, Army
- Keith T. Ockimey, Cherry Hill, Army
- Robert A. Rossi, Collingswood, Army
- Jameel T. Sadiq, Pennsauken, Navy
- Luisa Y. Sanchez, Cherry Hill, Army
- David L. Vann, Voorhees, Navy
- Timothy A. Washington, Voorhees, Air Force
The full veterans ceremony and pictures are posted on the Camden County website, as are all awards and the ranks of those honored. To get involved with the Camden County Office of Veterans Affairs, visit its website.
