Essex County Remembers Veterans

Newark, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. (center) hosted the 13th Annual Essex County Veterans Day Observance in Essex County Veterans Memorial Park in Newark on Thursday, November 10th.

“Throughout our country’s history, brave men and women have put their lives on hold to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces at home and abroad. Our Essex County Veterans Memorial Park was created to provide our veterans with a place to find serenity and comfort and provide a constant reminder to the public about their contributions and sacrifices,” DiVincenzo said. “We are proud to stand with our veterans at this important occasion, give them our respect and thank them for representing our country with valor and bravery. Our honorees this year demonstrate their commitment to public service by working as County employees and helping us continue Putting Essex County First,” he added.

Andres Lebron is a member of the Army National Guard and serves as a Detective in the Homicide Unit of the Prosecutor’s Office.

Andres Made is a veteran of the Marine Corp and currently is a Data Processing Systems Programmer in the IT Unit of the Division of Family Assistance and Benefits. He was in the Marines for four years as a Logistics Vehicle Systems and was stationed at Camp Lejeune and Camp Geiger in North Carolina, Twenty-Nine Palms in California and Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri.

Christopher Richardson is a veteran of the Army veteran and currently serves as a Detective in the Patrol Division with the Sheriff’s Office. He served in the Army for 26 years, attained the rank of Sergeant First Class and was responsible for training recruits when he was stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has been a police officer for 12 years and previously worked in the Courts Division and was on loan to the Prosecutor’s Office for one year.

Johnny Lawton is a veteran of the Army and serves as a Records Custodian in the Surrogate’s Office.

Larry Sermons is a veteran of the Army and serves as a Counselor with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act team in the Division of Employment and Training.

Robert Sutton is a veteran of the Navy veteran and currently serves as a Detective with the Sheriff’s Office. He was in the Navy for four and a half years and was assigned to the Navy Security Forces Unit providing anti-terrorism and force protection throughout Southwest Asia. He has been with the Sheriff’s Office for 15 years and previously was assigned in the Courts, K-9 Unit and Patrol Divisions.

Sylvia Velez is a veteran of the Marine Corps and serves as a Counselor with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act team in the Division of Employment and Training.

Tyronne Winn is a veteran of the Marine Corps and is currently a Keyboarding Clerk I in the IT Unit in the Division of Family Assistance and Benefits. He was in the Marines for four years where he was a member of the Security Forces in NAS Pax River in Maryland, guarded Alert Aircraft with nuclear capabilities and was a member of the Special Reaction Force. In addition, he was an infantry rifleman at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina, and was deployed to Kuwait and Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Essex County Commissioners held their annual celebration to honor veterans.