Henry DelTosto, the Adjutant of American Legion Post 70, is credited with coming up with both the idea for a town-wide Veterans' Appreciation Medal as well as its design. Public, Military and Veterans' Affairs Commissioner Steven Rogers distributed the first of these medals to WWII veterans at a ceremony the day before the Town's Veterans' Day celebration. The medal is a silver disk inscribed with the words, “Honoring veterans who proudly served Nutley,” on the back and an image of an eagle – the national bird – on the front. Each medal is attached to a ribbon with a pattern of maroon and gray (reflecting the Maroon Raiders school uniform colors) that each veteran can wear around his or her neck.
While the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs does periodically present its own Distinguished Service citations to servicemen and women the intent here was to recognize local veterans, not only for their military contributions, but also for their service to fellow veterans and the community at large at home.
Veterans of WWII were singled out for this honor first since the nation is losing more and more servicemen and women of that era every year.
In future years the hope is to honor veterans of other wars with similar medals.
Shown here is one of the WWII veterans that received the medal along with Commissioner Rogers to his right and other town dignitaries standing in front of the town's WWII monument.
