Hunterdon Freeholders Salute Sheriff's Officers

Hunterdon Freeholders Salute Sheriff’s Officers

Who Also Serve In Army National Guard

Hunterdon County’s Freeholder Board, at the March 5th meeting, gave special recognition to two members of Sheriff Fred W. Brown’s staff for their service in the Army National Guard.

The Freeholders, in honoring Sheriff’s Officer Thomas Illes and Sheriff’s Investigator Raymond Scarpa, III, as citizen soldiers who stand ready to answer the call, noted that the Army National Guard plays an important role in protecting America’s freedom.

Sheriff’s Officer Illes serves as a 1st Lieutenant, in the 3rd Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment (ACAR) in the Pennsylvania National Guard.

Sheriff’s Investigator Scarpa holds the rank of Specialist and serves as a gunner on the M119A3 Light Tow Howitzer with Bravo Battery, 3rd Battalion, 112th Field Artillery in the New Jersey National Guard.

Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel John J. Fearing, the Hunterdon County Chairman for Department of Defense Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), attended the Freeholder meeting and stated, “Today’s Reserve program is not your grandfather’s where there were weekend meetings once a month at the local armory. Today, these service members are part of America’s front-line fighting force, deployed throughout the world wherever the military has a mission whether it be peacekeeping or combat operations.”

Freeholder Board Director Suzanne Lagay stated, “The Freeholders are most appreciative of the sacrifice and dedication required to hold a full-time job with the Sheriff and serve in the National Guard. We also recognize the sacrifice made by the Guard members’ families in the face of military deployments.”

Sheriff Fred W. Brown said, “I join the other members of the Sheriff’s Office and our Freeholders in expressing our pride in the volunteer service in the military by Officer Illes and Investigator Scarpa. Their commitment to serve is essential to the strength of our Nation.”