Military veterans from across Morris County, and representing a host of military conflicts from
World War II and Korea to Vietnam and Afghanistan, were honored Wed., May 25, at Morris County’s
sunbaked Memorial Day ceremony, sponsored by the Morris County Board of Freeholders and
conducted on the lawn of the historic County Courthouse in Morristown.
Honorees included 99-year-old U.S. Army and
World War II veteran Herman Rosenberg of
Mount Olive, via many years in Morristown;
husband and wife veterans Robert and Mildred
Grant of Flanders; Alan Frenzel and his late
father Arthur Arno Frenzel of Morristown.
“We gather here to honor those members of
the military who have left us too soon, to
honor those who have served in our military
forces and to those who continue to serve,’’
said Freeholder Director Kathy DeFillippo.
“When we spend time this Memorial Day
weekend with our friends and families,
enjoying the fun of a holiday weekend, please
take a moment to pause and remember that we
are only able to do so because of their sacrifice. For this we can never thank them enough.’’
Freeholders DeFillippo, Doug Cabana, Hank Lyon, Tom Mastrangelo, John Cesaro and
Christine Myers were joined at the event by Assemblyman Anthony Bucco, Morris County
Clerk Ann Grossi, Sheriff Ed Rochford, Surrogate John Pecoraro, Superior Court Assignment
Judge and U.S. Army veteran Stuart Minkowitz, and retired Superior Court Assignment Judge
and Vietnam War veteran Thomas Weisenbeck.
Lt. Col. Edward C. Croot, Battalion Commander of the U.S. Army Mid-Atlantic Recruiting
Battalion, and a veteran of conflicts in Bosnia, Macedonia, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan-Pakistan,
Yemen, Zambia, and special terrorism advisor to the U.S. Ambassador in Bangladesh, was the
keynote speaker.
“Every person being honored today, and every veteran in this audience deserves our support and
respect,’’ said Croot, who grew up in Long Valley, and who broke down several times during
his speech and he recounted the loss of comrades in arms. “They are special people who have
sacrificed so much for our country.’’
The county’s Memorial Day ceremony featured the freeholders presenting the Morris County
Distinguished Military Service Medal to the 10 honored Morris County veterans in recognition
of their service to our nation.
The ceremony featured the Marine Corps Color Guard, Golf Co, 2nd Battalion, 25th Regiment from Picatinny Arsenal; the Morris County Sheriff’s Department Color Guard, an invocation by
Rev. Msgr. Patrick E. Brown of Catholic Charities of the Catholic Diocese of Paterson, patriotic
songs by the Lakeview School Select Chorus of Denville, and a wreath laying featuring Judge
Weisenbeck and Sheriff’s Detective Moire Reilly.
The county’s Distinguished Service Medal is unique to Morris County and features the county
seal encircled with the words, “Morris County Distinguished Military Service,” on the front.
An outline of the county and the American flag is on the back of the medal, along with the
words, “Morris County Freeholders Military Commemorative.”
Each medal’s striped ribbon is the color of the specific conflict during which the veteran served.
Since the freeholders began the program in 2000, nearly 10,000 medals have been presented to
veterans or to their family members.