Bill Text: NJ AJR163 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designates March 15 of each year as Jewish War Veterans Day in NJ.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-03-18 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee [AJR163 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-AJR163-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ALEX SAUICKIE
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Designates March 15 of each year as Jewish War Veterans Day in NJ.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating March 15 of each year as Jewish War Veterans Day in New Jersey.
Whereas, Jewish Americans have long served their country in the military; and
Whereas, During World War II, 550,000 Jewish men and women served in all branches of the United States Armed Forces; and
Whereas, Although they faced antisemitism both at home and in service, Jewish American military personnel were not segregated, and some held senior rank; and
Whereas, Many proud Jewish Americans have served and continue to serve in the United States Armed Forces, including Anna M. Rosenberg whose experiences with military affairs during World War II propelled her into a position as the first woman to serve as Assistant Secretary of Defense; and
Whereas, Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America, also known as Jewish War Veterans of the USA, is an organization that traces its history back to March 15, 1896 when 63 Civil War veterans gathered for the first meeting of the Hebrew Union Veterans Association, the group's original name, in New York City; and
Whereas, That meeting was called to counter false claims of a lack of service by Jewish Americans in the Civil War; and
Whereas, The Jewish War Veterans of the USA is the longest continuously serving veterans group in the United States, with 128 years of service as of March 15, 2024; and
Whereas, Jewish War Veterans of the USA received its congressional charter in 1984; and
Whereas, Jewish War Veterans of the USA has a long-standing history with the Four Chaplains Foundation beginning in the early 1950's, when Jewish war veterans from World Wars I and II developed the idea to fight discrimination by using the unity and loyalty of "The Immortals" during the sinking of the USAT Dorchester in 1943 to create an organization of "Unity Without Uniformity", which became that foundation; and
Whereas, "The Immortals" were four chaplains of different religions aboard the Dorchester who distributed life vests to troops and others on the ship and, when there were no more left, selflessly gave theirs to others and were seen going down with the ship, arms linked and sending prayers; and
Whereas, The Jewish War Veterans, Department of New Jersey, is at the forefront of efforts to educate and inform federal and State legislators on issues of particular concern to all veterans including funding, services, and benefits; and
Whereas, The Jewish War Veterans, Department of New Jersey, makes frequent visits to residents of the three State veteran memorial homes and to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals, and is also involved in supporting local veterans' activities such as parades, memorial events, picnics, and flag retirement services; and
Whereas, Jewish War Veterans of the USA continues to live up to the mission to preserve the Jewish American military legacy to protect veteran rights, to spread Americanism, to fight antisemitism and to promote community; and
Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper to recognize Jewish war veterans and their contributions on the battlefields and to the cause of freedom and justice; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. March 15 of each year is designated as "Jewish War Veterans Day" in New Jersey.
2. The Governor is respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials, private organizations, and all citizens of this State to observe "Jewish War Veterans Day" with appropriate events and activities.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
Jewish men and women serve in the United States Armed Forces. They have faced antisemitism both at home and in service, yet proudly served, and fought in the United States military.
Jewish War Veterans of the USA traces its history back to March 15, 1896 when 63 Civil War veterans gathered for the first meeting of the Hebrew Union Veterans Association, the group's original name, in New York City. That meeting was called to counter false claims of a lack of service by Jewish Americans in the Civil War.
Jewish War Veterans of the USA is the longest continuously serving veterans group in the United States, with 128 years of service as of March 15, 2024. It received its congressional charter in 1984.
The Jewish War Veterans, Department of New Jersey, is at the forefront of efforts to educate and inform federal and State legislators on issues of particular concern to all veterans including funding, services, and benefits. They are also involved in support of local veterans' activities such as parades, memorial events, picnics, and flag retirement services.
Jewish war veterans continue to live up to the mission to preserve the Jewish-American military legacy to protect veteran rights, to spread Americanism, and to promote community. It is fitting and proper to recognize the Jewish war veterans and their contributions on the battlefields and to the cause of freedom and justice for all veterans.
