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.