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Morris County honors eight veterans and marks Marine Corps 250th during annual Veterans Day ceremony
Summary
At a combined Veterans Day ceremony and Board meeting, Morris County commissioners presented Distinguished Military Service Medals to eight local veterans, read a resolution marking the Marine Corps' 250th anniversary and honored Civil War Medal of Honor recipient Corporal Charles F. Hopkins with a county resolution and historic displays.
The Morris County Board of County Commissioners held its annual Veterans Day ceremony on Nov. 5, 2025, honoring eight local veterans and reading a board resolution recognizing the United States Marine Corps' 250th anniversary. Director (presiding officer) welcomed veterans, families and guests and described expanded county veteran services, including four service officers and a co-located federal VA clinic and mental-health access point.
Deputy Director Steven Shaw led a tribute recognizing Corporal Charles Fern Hopkins Sr., a Civil War Medal of Honor recipient from the Boonton area. Shaw recounted Hopkins’s service, imprisonment at Andersonville and Florence prisons, postwar civic roles and work on a monument at Andersonville National Cemetery, and the board presented a county resolution honoring Hopkins to his descendant Charlie Marazzini.
Commissioner John Kriecus, speaking as a Marine veteran, framed the Marine Corps’ heritage in a short history of Belleau Wood and closed his remarks with, “Once a marine, always a marine.” Several other elected officials on hand offered commendations; State Sen. Anthony Bucco presented a joint state senate and assembly resolution recognizing Hopkins’s valor.
As commissioners individually presented Distinguished Military Service Medals, the board summarized each honoree’s service record before presenting medals and simultaneous state assembly/senate resolutions and congressional certificates when applicable. The honorees included Vincent J. DeCaro (Randolph Township), Christopher Gardner (Morristown), Ronald Pierantosy (Pequannock Township), Samuel Yuan (Randolph Township), Robert Litrio (Hanover Township), Charles E. Johnson (Dover), Anaceto Rivera (Boonton Township), and Jack B. Bosma (Kinnelon). Each recipient’s service era, branch and notable awards were read into the record before presentation.
Deputy Director Shaw thanked staff and volunteers and invited attendees to view historic displays outside the meeting room and to enjoy refreshments. The ceremony concluded with group photos before the board continued regular county business.
