More than 60 veterans, service providers and community representatives met at the county Veterans Services Office, with updates on benefits, outreach and a September memorial exhibit at County College of Morris.
MORRIS COUNTY, NJ – More than 60 veterans, service providers and community organization representatives gathered last week at the Morris County Veterans Services Office in Morris Township for a New Jersey SOS Veterans Stakeholders meeting focused on strengthening the countywide support network for veterans.
Morris County announced the meeting on Monday, June 22, saying the gathering brought together county, state, federal and nonprofit partners involved in veterans services, health care, housing, education, benefits assistance and community outreach.
Morris County Commissioner Deputy Director John Krickus, a Marine Corps veteran, welcomed attendees and said the meetings help keep service providers focused on veterans’ needs throughout the year.
“This kind of information sharing is invaluable,” Krickus said.
Participants included representatives from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, the VA New Jersey Health Care System, the County College of Morris Veterans Resource Center and several veteran-focused and community organizations.
Organizations represented included Atlantic Health System’s True North Program, the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities Diocese of Paterson, Community Hope, Fairleigh Dickinson University and Morris Habitat for Humanity. Local veterans organizations also participated, including Montville Memorial VFW Post 5481, Morris Plains VFW Post 3401, Randolph VFW Post 7333 and Welcome Home Vets of New Jersey.
During the meeting, New Jersey SOS Veterans Stakeholders co-founder Ariel “AJ” Luna, a U.S. Army veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, announced that the Remembering Our Fallen Moving Wall exhibit is scheduled to be displayed at County College of Morris from Sept. 24-27, 2026.
The meeting also included updates from Christine Hellyer, director of the Morris County Office of Aging, Disabilities, and Community Programming, and Jessica Tomalo, program coordinator for the Office of Veterans Services, who discussed outreach and awareness efforts for available veterans services.
The Morris County Veterans Services Office helps county veterans and their families with VA benefits and entitlements, referrals for education and health care, job assistance and training, transportation help, service records and other support. The office is located at 540 West Hanover Avenue in Morris Township and has walk-in hours Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.