From 1953 to 2013: Veterans From Each Hudson County Town Honored

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise congratulated the County’s 2023 “Veterans of the Year” at a ceremony and festive brunch at County Prep High School in Jersey City last week.

The honorees all received County Citations. Each nominee was selected by their municipality based on their past military service and continued contribution to their community.

This year’s Hudson County Veterans of the Year are:

• Will Sheehan (Bayonne) a Naval Academy graduate and former Navy SEALS intelligence officer,
• Michael Matera, (Guttenberg) honorably discharged from the Army in 1953 and member of VFW Post 33,
• William Sweeney (Harrison) a US Navy vet, member of American Legion Post 282 and Coordinator of the local VOICE program that connect veterans with community services,
• James J. Farina (Hoboken) who served in the US Army during the 1960’s and has a four-decade long history of community service to his city,
• John F. Pettigrew (Kearny) a former Navy and Coast Guard vet who volunteers with American Legion Post 99 and 282,
• Jason M. Stuart (Jersey City) a 14 year veteran of the Army National Guard who now runs a local small business,
• Andrew Ventura (North Bergen) a US Navy veteran who served in Vietnam and has been a member of the American Legion for 31 years and a lifetime member of the VFW,
• Philip Papa (Secaucus) Army Veteran of the Vietnam War who serves today as the Commander of VFW Post 3776,
• Gunnery Sergeant Caonabo Reyes (Union City) a Platoon Leader in Operation Desert Storm who today serves as Commander of American Legion Post 221,
• Rafael Torres (Weehawken) was a member of the US Army in the early 1950’s now 90 years old he still works in his community , and
• Christian Ramos (West New York) has only recently returned from deployment and now continues to serve and protect as a member of the West New York Police Department and member of the US Army Reserve.

“The freedom we enjoy as Americans is protected by those willing to serve our nation to defend it,” said County Executive DeGise. “That is why it was truly an honor to have this opportunity to stand before these outstanding individuals and thank them for their service to our country on behalf of all the people of Hudson County.”

Additional photos from the ceremony can be found and downloaded on the county's Instagram @hudcoinsta