Major General Glenn K. Rieth, the Adjutant General of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs today visited the National Guard Recruiting Center in Paterson to honor U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-08) with the prestigious Charles Dick Medal of Merit.

The Charles Dick Medal of Merit is awarded by the New Jersey National Guard and National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) to individuals who have distinguished themselves as outstanding Americans. 

The National Guard cited Pascrell’s exceptional solidarity with New Jersey’s National Guard, commitment to veterans’ causes, ability to secure a new veterans outpatient clinic at St. Joseph’s Medical Center and success in establishing a new National Guard recruiting center in Paterson as grounds for awarding the Charles Dick Medal of Merit.  The National Guard also singled out Pascrell’s sponsorship of legislation that was signed into law that has improved outreach programs carried out by the Department of Veterans Affairs.  Since its passage, the “Veterans Right-to-Know” Act has improved an information exchange informing veterans of benefits available to them under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 

“While I am humbled to receive this honor, the real honor goes out to the thousands of New Jersey National Guard members who are serving us abroad and preparing to deploy overseas,” stated Pascrell.  “The work I have completed to make life a little easier for our active duty guard members and veterans is no match for the incredible sacrifices they endure for our freedom.  With this great honor, and with the largest deployment of New Jersey Guard Members since World War II, I feel a greater responsibility than ever before to step up and provide for our troops while they fight overseas and when they return home.” 

The Charles Dick Medal of Merit was established in 1988 to recognize the contributions to the National Guard by elected representatives to legislative bodies at the state and national levels. The medal is named in honor of Maj. Gen. Charles Dick, president of the National Guard Association of the United States from 1902 to 1909, a major general in the Ohio National Guard, a Congressman and later a Senator. Dick was responsible for the passage of the Dick Acts of 1903 and 1908 that established the foundation of the modern National Guard.

General Rieth will attend Rep. Pascrell’s Annual Veterans Fair at VFW Post 6255 in Cedar Grove on September 13th.

Click here to view a copy of the letter congratulating Pascrell for being selected to receive the Charles Dick Medal of Merit.    

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