Washington Township earns state’s Community Award for its attention to Veterans
- By MARK KITCHIN Staff Writer Observer-Tribune
Nov 15, 2023 Updated Nov 15, 2023
Washington Township Mayor Matt Murello and members of the American Veterans Association of Washington Township Post 1776 appeared at a ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Holmdel to received the Governor’s “We Value Our Veterans” Community Award which was given to Washington Township. From left are Post Commander Thomas McBride, Lee Twomey, Murello, John Krayniak, Chuch Dauchet.
Photo by Matt Murello
WASHINGTON TWP. — Mayor Matt Murello and several members of the American Veterans Association of Washington Township (AVAWT) Post 1776 took part in a Veterans Day ceremony at the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Holmdel Township on Saturday, Nov. 11.
A group of about 650 visitors saw Murello and the veterans presented with the Governor’s “We Value our Veterans” Community Award by New Jersey’s Secretary of State Tahesha Way and Brigadier Gen. Lisa J. Hou. The award was signed by Gov. Phil Murphy.
The award was also sponsored by the State of New Jersey Military and Veterans Affairs Department. AVAWT Post 1776 Commander Thomas McBride attended the event along with Post members Chuck Dauchert, Ed Twomey and John Krayniak.
“This award shows our commitment to honoring and supporting our local veterans and their families,’’ Murello said.
Murello was notified of the award in the summertime but was unaware of the presentation at the public ceremony until recently. He said the township answered a list of questions regarding the relationship of veterans and the township and gathered the required number of points to earn the award.
“It’s an objective checklist,’’ Murello said. “Do we have and active veterans group? Do they participate in the community? Do we have events for them? Do we have special parking for them? Do we have a Senior Center? We met all of those requirements. “We were awarded it and I thought that was the end of it and then I was notified last month that on Veterans Day they have an annual celebration at the Veterans Memorial.