Singleton to be Honored with “Assemblyman of the Year” Award by AMVETS-NJ at Annual Commander Reception
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Assemblyman Troy Singleton will be honored as the "New Jersey State Assemblyman of the Year for 2012" by AMVETS - New Jersey at their annual Commander Reception on Saturday, June 1.
Singleton was selected, along with Senator Jeff Van Drew, for his tireless legislative work on behalf of New Jersey's veterans.
"New Jersey American Veterans is proud to announce New Jersey Legislator of the Year, Assemblyman Troy Singleton," said Fred Vineyard, AMVETS - New Jersey District 1 Commander. "Assemblyman Singleton and his office staff have sponsored holiday supply drives and sent 151 boxes of supplies to the 508th military police company deployed to Afghanistan. Assemblyman Singleton has also sponsored 26 bills to advocate on behalf of the needs of our veterans and troops, making him much deserved of this award."
"This is a tremendous honor given all that our veterans have done to protect and defend our liberties," said Singleton (D-Burlington), who is also a member of VFW Post 3020 Men's Auxiliary. "No amount of legislative work can ever compare to the sacrifices they have made, especially the ultimate sacrifice that far too many have given. For as long as I am elected to continue serving in Trenton I will make sure that the needs of our men and women in the armed forces, and their families, remain a top priority."
Among the many bills Singleton has sponsored are one (A-2014) signed into law in March creating the "Helmets to Hardhats" program to help out-of-work former military personnel find jobs in the construction industry; one (A-2164) signed into law in January to ensure parents serving in the Armed Forces who are involved in custody cases are not disadvantaged by certain military absences; and one (A-2561) signed into law last August authorizing county governments to create veterans identification card programs.
Singleton has also sponsored nearly two dozen other bills to benefit veterans and active military personnel, including those that would (A-1082) exclude Armed Services combat zone pay from gross income taxation, (A-2519 & ACR-11) allow veterans' organizations to use the net proceeds from games of chance to support their organizational expenses, (A-1803) expand eligibility for veterans' civil service preference, (A-2011) allow residents to make a voluntary contribution to homeless veterans on their gross income tax return, and (A2184) provide for an increase in the allowance paid to veterans with certain wartime service-connected disabilities.
AMVETS traces its history back to World War II when returning veterans began organizing independent clubs to promote world peace, preserve the American way of life and help veterans to help themselves. Originally, called American Veterans of World War II, the organization adopted the name "AMVETS" after a newspaper reporter coined the term to fit a headline. AMVETS - New Jersey was founded by World War II veterans and incorporated on October 9, 1945. Membership is open to all men and women who have served their country in the Armed Forces of the United States of America, who have received a DD-214, and an honorable discharge.
Singleton will receive the Assemblyman of the Year award at the Commander Reception on Saturday, June 1, at the Clarion Hotel Convention Center in Egg Harbor Township where the dinner reception is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.