MOORESTOWN, NJ — Burlington County officials came together this weekend in Moorestown to honor a remarkable milestone for one of New Jersey’s longest-living veterans.

May Brill, the oldest living female veteran in New Jersey, celebrated her 102nd birthday with a special brunch at the Burlington County Agricultural Center on May 3. She was joined by Burlington County Commissioner Randy Brolo, Senator Troy Singleton, Assemblyman Balvir Singh and Moorestown Councilman Tom Bader, along with her family, friends and fellow community members. 

Born in Philadelphia, Brill had two brothers who enlisted in the Army and Coast Guard, who inspired her to join the military, according to her profile from the VA when she was named “Veteran of the Day” in 2022. After graduating from the South Philadelphia High School for Girls, she enlisted in the military at the age of 20, completing six weeks of basic training at Hunter College in The Bronx, New York, before received specialized training at Georgia State College for Women.

Brill served from June 1944 to June 1946 in Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) in Oakland, CA, as a seaman third class. She was one of nine Jewish women in her barracks of 400 people as part of the program that opened the door for women to take on critical roles during the war. On her base, she supplied goods and equipment from warehouses to the Pacific bases and fleets. She achieved the rank of storekeeper second class.

Following her military service, Brill dedicated her life to advocating for fellow veterans—particularly women. She co-founded the “Women Veterans Are Not Invisible” initiative and served as chair of the New Jersey Women in the Military organization. She also held the role of honorary commander of Jewish War Veterans Post 126 and previously chaired the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home in Vineland.

At Sunday's celebration, Commissioner Brolo presented Brill with an official Burlington County proclamation recognizing her trailblazing military service and decades of advocacy on behalf of veterans across the state, while Senator Singleton and Assemblyman Singh presented a joint legislative resolution honoring her legacy. 

“(Bril) answered the call to serve our nation and continued that commitment long after her military service as she advocated for female veterans and others throughout her life,” said Senator Singleton.

“A proud veteran, Ms. Brill reminds us what service looks like across generations,” said Assemblyman Singh. “As her Rabbi, Ariel Milan-Polisar, shared, the Hebrew word boneh—builder—captures who she is. Ms. Brill shared that too often, female veterans are left out of the conversation. She said, ‘We were there too’—in wars and skirmishes. It’s a reminder we must continue to broaden our understanding of service and ensure every voice is recognized.”

Sunday's birthday celebration was organized by iSlay Walden Education Alliance and highlighted not only Brill’s longevity, but also her lasting impact on generations of veterans and her continued role as an inspiration throughout the community.\

Original Article