Two Cherry Hill veterans received medals for their military service at a ceremony held at Jefferson Hospital on Friday, Oct. 16.
Albert F. Patchus, a Navy veteran, and Herbert Zarge, an Army veteran, were among six Camden County veterans and active military personnel honored at the Jefferson Medal Ceremony, according to Camden County. The Camden County Board of Commissioners presented the awards at the Cherry Hill hospital.
The ceremony was a joint effort. Jefferson Health hosted the event in partnership with the commissioners, Camden County Veterans' Affairs, Jewish War Veterans Post 126 and the Jewish Family & Children's Service of Southern New Jersey.
Four other veterans also received medals: Edward M. Blair, Navy, of Gloucester Township; Terrence Hoskins, Army, of Pennsauken; James E. Proud Jr., Navy, of Audubon Park; and Steven P. Weinberg, Navy, of Voorhees. Four of the six honorees served in the Navy.
Commissioner Colleen Bianco Bezich, liaison to Veterans Affairs, said at the ceremony that "honoring our veterans is a simple way of saying thank you for the sacrifices they and their families have made in service to our country."
The Oct. 16 event followed a similar Camden County medal ceremony held in June aboard the Battleship New Jersey, where Bianco Bezich and the Camden County Office of Veterans Affairs recognized five veterans. The county did not specify what era of service the Oct. 16 honorees served in or describe the specific medal awarded.
Photos from the ceremony are available on Camden County's Flickr page.
