09 Nov ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO HOSTS ANNUAL VETERANS DAY OBSERVANCE AT ESSEX COUNTY VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK Essex County Veterans Advisory Board Members with Military Experience are Recognized for their Service
Published on November 9, 2023
Newark, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. hosted the 14th Annual Essex County Veterans Day Observance in Essex County Veterans Memorial Park in Newark on Thursday, November 9th. During the ceremony, the County Executive presented Essex County Community Star Awards to members of the Essex County Veterans Advisory Board who have military experience. They are Julio Aponte III (Navy), Lucy Del Gaudio (Army and Army Reserves), Joseph James Morgan, Jr. (Marines), Dr. Margaret Stevens (Army National Guard), Khadijah Walker (Air Force) and Samantha Washington (Navy).
“Throughout our country’s history, brave men and women have put their lives on hold to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces at home and abroad. Our Essex County Veterans Memorial Park was created to provide our veterans with a place to find serenity and comfort and provide a constant reminder to the public about their contributions and sacrifices,” DiVincenzo said. “We are proud to stand with our veterans at this important occasion, give them our respect and thank them for representing our country with valor and bravery. Our honorees this year demonstrate their commitment to public service by working as County employees and helping us continue Putting Essex County First,” he added.
East Orange resident Julio Aponte III enlisted in the Navy after graduating high school in 2006. His first sea tour was on the USS George Washington. Working for the E-Division in the Motor Rewind Shop, he participated in change of homeport and took the aircraft carrier on a world tour into Yokosuka, Japan, where he achieved the rank of Third-Class Petty Officer and both his warfare pins. In June 2011, he served on the USS Arleigh Burke, was deployed to the Mediterranean and achieved the rank of Second-Class Petty Officer. In 2012, he reported to Presidential Retreat Camp David where he was Lead Supervisor of the Maintenance Division’s Readiness and Electronic Security Department. Aponte finished his active duty in 2015 and joined the Naval Reserves where he served for four years and achieved the rank of First-Class Petty Officer. He has received the Presidential Service Badge, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Navy Good Conduct Medal twice and National Defense Service Medal, among others. In addition to being a member of the Essex County Veterans Advisory Board, Aponte is a member of Wounded Warriors, American Legion, VFW, Disabled American Veterans and American Veterans. He continues his public service working for the East Orange Water Commission as the Acting Supervisor for Maintenance.
“Veterans Day is a special day in my heart because I represent the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve their country. The sacrifices you make to serve are immeasurable,” said Aponte who dedicated the award he received to his mother.
Belleville resident Lucy Del Gaudio served in the Army and Army Reserves for eight years as an Administrative Specialist. She earned a Good Conduct Medal, Army Achievement Medal and National Defense Service Medal. In addition to being a member of the Essex County Veterans Advisory Board, Lucy volunteers with The Pink Berets, Minority Veterans of America, the NJ Commission of Women Veterans, the NJ SOS Veterans Stakeholders and Claymore Vets. In 2018, she became the first female Grand Marshall in the 87-year history of the Weehawken Memorial Day Parade.
Belleville resident Joseph James Morgan, Jr. attained the rank of Staff Sergeant E6 while serving with the Marines and Marine Corp Reserves. He served three tours of duty in Iraq and Africa as a combat Marine, advanced infantryman, war fighter, machine gunner and served in numerous leadership capacities. He was responsible for coordinating war fighting and supervising, training and mentoring other Marines. He was a member of the Honor Guard, performing 300 funeral details, and has received several commendations, service awards and achievement medals. In addition to being a member of the Essex County Veterans Advisory Board, he continues his service to the community as a Corrections Officer at the Essex County Correctional Facility. He also is a member of American Veterans with Disabilities, organizes Toys for Tots drives and has earned his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in psychology.
Newark resident Dr. Margaret Stevens was a Medic in 91 Bravo with the Army National Guard in Jersey City from 1997 to 2004. She earned a PhD and Master’s degree from Brown University, participated in a management development program at Harvard University and a Bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University and has been Director of he Urban Issues Institute and Associate History Professor at Essex County College since 2009. In addition to being a member of the Essex County Veterans Advisory Board, she is on the Board of Directors of Veterans for Peace, a member of the American Legion Guyton Callahan Post 153 in Newark and a co-founder and member of the Servicewomen’s Action Network and participated in the 20th Anniversary: Veterans’ Affairs Braintrust at the 38th Annual Congressional Black Caucus in 2008. Dr. Stevens also is on the Community Advisory Board of the American Black Male Leadership Institute, the Boad of Directors of Planned Parenthood of New Jersey, Board of Trustees of the Newark Historical Landmarks and Preservation Committee and is a member of the Ivy Hill Neighborhood Association.
“I appreciate all that Essex County does for veterans and I am honored to receive this award,” said Stevens.
Newark resident Khadijah Walker served in the Air Force as the Branch Information Manager at the Military Personnel Center in Randolph Air Force Base in Texas. While there, she supported 13 other officers while managing the operations of the office. After leaving the military, Khadijah continued her service to the public working at Essex County College, Newark Public Schools and Essex County Division of Family Assistance and Benefits, where she currently is a Family Service Worker in the Document Resource Recovery Unit. In addition to verifying the accuracy of clients’ applications, Khadijah identifies other programs, such as the Social Security Administration, Veterans Administration and State Employment Service, where clients may be eligible to receive benefits. She also is the primary liaison between Essex County and the State of New Jersey and a member of the Essex County Veterans Advisory Board.
“Being recognized today is certainly an honor and was unexpected. The Air Force prepared me and when I came to work for the County I used all the lessons I learned from the military to prepare myself. I’m glad I have the opportunity to serve,” said Walker, whose father, uncle and son also served in the military.
Little Falls resident Samantha Washington joined the Navy in 2002. She served as a Maintenance Control Clerk with Strike Fighter Fourteen in the Pacific Fleet and was responsible for maintaining 12 F-14 Tom Cats and other aircraft. She then was assigned as a Maintenance Department Data Field Analyst Lead, a Command Diversity Team Member and a Maintenance Control Logs and Records Leading Supervisor for Strike Fighter Squadron Eleven. She was responsible for hundreds of aircraft that was deployed overseas and at home, earned employee awards for her hard work and implemented diversity training and a diversity website. In addition to being a member of the Essex County Veterans Advisory Board, Samanthan has continued her public service by working as a Staff Assistant in Congressman Donald Payne’s Office in Newark where she assists fellow veterans with VA claims and housing, addresses constituent concerns, and does outreach into the community and with local businesses.
“Veterans Day is not just another holiday to get a day off. The best way to thank a veterans is to help make sure they have food, have housing and are employed; make sure they don’t slip through the cracks,” said Washington.
Joining the County Executive in giving accolades to the men and women who served our country were Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura, Essex County Prosecutor Ted Stephens, Register Juan Rivera, Deputy Chief of Staff William Payne, Essex County Veterans Affairs Advisory Board member and DAV Chapter 3 of Newark member Clarence Jackson, and Navy Veteran Bill Squires, Commissioner Vice President Carlos Pomares and Commissioners Patricia Sebold and Len Luciano.
Rev. Dennis Hughes, Director of the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center, gave the invocation. Essex County Deputy Clerk of the Board of Commissioners Kathy Brown sang the National Anthem. The Essex County Sheriff’s Honor Guard presented the colors at the beginning of the ceremony. Bagpiper Joe McGonigal performed the “Armed Forces Medley.”
Essex County Veterans Memorial Park became the first new Essex County park developed in Newark in 80 years when it opened in September 2009. It was created on the site of an antiquated parking garage that opened in the 1960s and had become an community eyesore. The 2.7-acre park has about 400 trees, shrubs and perennials, two small meadows, the Armed Forces Memorial, walking paths and decorative metal archways at the entrances. The Armed Forces Memorial includes a circular water fountain surrounded by 10 flagpoles and a short granite wall. The flags of the seven branches of the military – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Army National Guard and Air Force National Guard – fly from 25-foot poles while the New Jersey State flag and Essex County flag fly from 30-foot poles and the American flag flies from a 35-foot pole at the center of the display. At the base of each flagpole on the granite wall is the official agency or government seal.