About the Award
The annual ceremony recognizes eligible veterans through award of the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal, the state’s highest honor for military service. This ceremony is a cooperative effort between the office of the mayor, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Glennon-Sayers Post 376 and the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.  Since its inception in 1999, the event has been chaired by Gary Englert, a decorated Vietnam veteran, who also chairs the West Orange Commission on Military and Veterans Affairs.

For more information, contact Chairman Gary Englert at (609) 209-5796.

Award Recipients
To date, 360 West Orange combat veterans have received the award. View West Orange recipients.

Apply
The township is seeking combat veterans to honor Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, 2014. Veterans holding certain high-level decorations that are equal to or exceeding the Purple Heart are eligible for receipt of the award with the addition of an oak leaf cluster.

Applications
All applications must be filed with the Mayor's Office  by April 1 to be considered for the Memorial Day presentation. Download the Distinguished Service Medal Application or get an application at the Mayor's office, 66 Main Street, Room 106, call (973)325-4100 or by contacting Deputy Mayor Ralph Panciello at (973)  325-4182.

Qualifications
To qualify, a veteran must meet the following criteria:

• Veteran is a current New Jersey resident who entered the armed forces as a resident of this State (or a 20 year resident in the aggregate).
• Veteran must have served during a time of war or national emergency in a combat theater of operations and must have been honorably discharged. Discharge papers and/or other proof of military service must be submitted and the medal can be awarded posthumously.