Online Registration for Medals

            Somerset County Freeholder Director Robert Zaborowski and Freeholder Peter S. Palmer have announced that the freeholder board will present medals this fall to past and current Somerset County residents who served during the Vietnam Era.

            The presentations will be made as part of the American Veterans Traveling Tribute (AVTT) exhibit at the Somerset County Park Commission’s North Branch Park/County Fairgrounds in Bridgewater .  The AVTT is a large-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington , D.C.   The wall will be open to visitors at the fairgrounds from 1 p.m. on Oct. 13 through 3 p.m. on Oct. 16. Visitors will be welcome around the clock. The AVTT’s appearance in Somerset County is sponsored by Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 452.

            “Hosting the Traveling Tribute in Somerset County will be a great honor,” Freeholder Director Zaborowski said.  “We want our Somerset County Vietnam veterans to know we have not forgotten the sacrifices they made.”

            “We are glad to have this opportunity to honor our Vietnam veterans,” said Freeholder Palmer, liaison to the AVTT project.  “Additional medals like the ones we gave to Vietnam Era veterans in 2005 are still available, and we thought this would be an appropriate time to present them to veterans or family members who did not receive them six years ago.”

            Eligible Vietnam Era veterans are asked to complete a registration form by Aug. 1.  To complete the form online, go to www.co.somerset.nj.us/medalform.htm  For more information or to request that the form be mailed to you, call (908) 541-5710 or email veteransmedal@co.somerset.nj.us

            The county is accepting registrations for the Vietnam Era medal by veterans themselves, by family members on behalf of a veteran, and by relatives of deceased veterans.  The medals will be available at the North Branch Park fairgrounds Oct. 13 through 16, at times to be announced closer to those dates.

To be eligible, a person must be a current or former Somerset County resident who served in the U.S. military during the Vietnam Era between Dec. 31, 1960, and May 7, 1975, and must not have received a Vietnam Era medal previously from Somerset County .  The veteran or family must provide a copy of his or her Report of Separation DD214 or other proof of service.