TRENTON, N.J. – Veterans who fought for the country after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks would be eligible for a New Jersey Global War on Terrorism Medal under bill (A2131) passed by the state Assembly Thursday and sponsored by Assemblyman Christopher DePhillips.
“The brave men and women in the military who served after 9/11 have fought, and continue to fight, to destroy evil and demonstrate to the world why America is the strongest nation on earth,” said DePhillips (R-Bergen). “America is a nation of people with uncommon courage. Our veterans didn’t shy away from defending our values after the course of history was forever changed and they deserve to be recognized.”
Nearly 7,000 Americans have been killed in the War on Terror and more than 52,000 have been wounded, as of April 2019.
To receive the medal, a veteran must have been a New Jersey resident who was honorably discharged and served for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days in one of the following eight operations: Enduring Freedom (01-04), Noble Eagle (01-present), Iraqi Freedom (03-10), Nomad Shadow (07-present), New Dawn (10-11), Inherent Resolve (14-present), Freedom’s Sentinel (15-present), and Odyssey Lightning (16-present). The medal will also be available for a person killed in action or missing in action.