Panel works to honor, support veterans
Your Turn
Carl Asszony
Guest Column

Hidden among the 100 veterans organizations throughout Middlesex County with membership in the thousands, there exists a very small, dedicated, relatively unknown group of 16 volunteer veterans, both male and female, whose sole purpose is to respond to the needs of the 55,535 veterans within the county.

Members of this very special group have served in World War II, the Korean Conflict, Vietnam and peace time. Their demographic makeup closely resembles that of the county population at large. They do not receive any compensation for their service and seldom are given, or openly seek, a word of thanks for their effort. Members of this group have given thousands of hours of their time and energy for those matters that are of importance to the county's veterans population. This special group and its members are called the Middlesex County Veterans Advisory Council (MCVAC).

The council acts as a collective voice to advise the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders on the needs, issues and concerns of the veterans population. More than that, however, its members sponsor and are actively involved with many veterans events under the auspices of the freeholders board.

The MCVAC has been responsible for organizing countywide events and projects of a patriotic and/or military nature, such as the three-day visit last year at Roosevelt Park, Edison, of the Vietnam Traveling Wall, a half-size replica of the Vietnam Wall in Washington, D.C. More than 3,000 people attended that event. MCVAC also had underwear drives for needy veterans and their families as well as others in need.

The council has sponsored the event in which World War II and Korean War veterans who left high school before graduation were able to get their high school diplomas. It has sponsored the yearly Massing of Colors or Tribute to Veterans. It is striving to get limited free legal service to needy veterans in Middlesex County, as well as free veterans photo identification cards through the county department of passports and identification. It has succeeded in changing its bylaws to include an active-duty person as a member of the panel. This will address the needs of those who served (veterans), with a link to those presently serving (active-duty personnel).

All of these accomplishments, and much more, are done to acknowledge, honor and support the county veterans.

This year the council is planning an Outreach 2006 program. This will consist of several free public forums for all veterans and their families, in particular those veterans who do not belong to any formal veterans organization. The first forum will be held from 1:30-3:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 27, at the Piscataway Senior Center, Hoes Lane.

Registration is not required. Speakers from local, state and federal agencies will discuss the many benefits and services available to veterans and their families. Family members are encouraged to attend. For more information, call (732) 745-4051.

The MCVAC meetings are open to the public and are held on the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. in the fifth-floor conference room at the county administration building, Bayard Street, New Brunswick. Guests must sign in at the reception desk.

Carl Asszony recently retired as coordinator of Middlesex County Veterans Services.