1999 Governor Christie Todd Whitman State of the State address

No. Okay, spring's back members. I'd like to now recognize the Senator from Mometh County, Senate Majority Leader, John Bennett. I move that the joint session of the second annual session of the 280 legislature do now come to order. I'd like to now recognize the Assemblyman from Bergen County, Assembly Majority Leader Paul DeGitanel. President, I second the motion.

All those in favor say aye. Aye. The aye is obviously having. I'm advised by the Secretary of the Senate and the clerk of the General Assembly that a quorum is present at this joint session of the 208th legislature. At this time, would guests and legislators please rise for the presentation of the colors, followed by the National Anthem, Pledge of Allegiance, and the invocation. Oh, say can you see my the dawn's early light, but so proudly we hailed at this wildlife's last gleaming, whose bush drives and bright stars through the perilous fire.

For the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming, and the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that a flag was still there. Oh, say does that star-spangled banner in vain, for the land of the free and the home of the brave? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, individual with liberty and justice for all.

Please bow your heads for prayer. Almighty God, we bow in your presence this day with the realization that you are our God and we are your people. We give thanks today for those who gave their lives in service for this country. As we rededicate this memorial, we dedicate ourselves to the task of perfecting your kingdom of peace among all nations. May this memorial serve as an enduring witness before your people a faithful service of those whom we commemorate. Endow each of us with courage and strength that we may affirm the ideals for which others have sacrificed and exalt the memory of their commitment to our nation. This we ask in your holy name, Amen.

Please be seated. Please be seated. Please be seated. On behalf of both houses of the legislature, Senate President DeFrancisco and I would like to welcome everyone to the governor's annual state of the state address, which will be immediately followed by the rededication of the war memorial.

Mr. President, I wish to inform the joint session that the governor has arrived. Will the committee to wait on the governor please escort her to the podium. Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, it's now my proud honor to introduce the governor of the state of New Jersey, the honorable Christine Todd Whitman.

Thank you very much. Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, Madam Chief Justice, distinguished members of the legislature, proud veterans, honored guests and fellow New Jerseyans. Five years ago, when I took my oath of office on this stage, the Trenton War Memorial had reached a sad state of disrepair. Just look around you now. Once again, New Jersey has a war memorial as majestic and proud as the heroism it honors.

I want to thank all those who had a part in restoring this remarkable structure. It is fitting that we remember New Jersey's patriots and rededicate this memorial to them. As we do so, it is also fitting that we look back at what we have done together for our state and rededicate ourselves to building its future. As I begin, I want to applaud the outstanding work accomplished last year by the legislature and in particular by the two gentlemen sitting behind me. Whether the issue was auto insurance or open space or a property tax freeze for seniors, Senate President Francesco and Speaker Collins have always put the people first. Working in collaboration with minority leaders Cody and Doria, they have helped New Jersey achieve some remarkable things.

Gentlemen, I salute you and I thank you. As I have been governor, I have often been asked what do you want to be known for? What do you want your legacy to be? It is a tough question. This state is too diverse. It is challenges too great for us to focus all our energies on any one area, no matter how worthy. I want to be known just as the tax cutting governor, but I am proud that together we have cut taxes 17 times that working families are keeping more of what they earn and that today in New Jersey more people are working than ever before. We know as just the crime fighting governor, but I am proud that the laws we have passed have made our state a tougher place for criminals and a safer place for families.

Today, New Jersey has the lowest crime rate in a quarter of a century. I want to be known as just the education governor, but I am proud that we have put in place tough academic standards that we have charter schools opening all around the state. For the first time in three decades, we have put the spotlight where it belongs, not in the courtroom, but in the classroom. I don't want to be known as just the welfare governor, but I am proud that together in a bipartisan spirit, we have helped families get back on the road to self-sufficiency. Today, the welfare caseload in New Jersey is 45% lower than the day I took office. Our citizens deserve leaders who are tax cutters, crime fighters, education and welfare reformers and so much more.

So let the fullness of our record mark my tenure as governor and let that record be the health of our economy, the prosperity of our citizens, and the strength of our families. My fellow citizens, the state of the state is vibrant and vigorous. I am proud of what we have achieved over these five years, but as we stand on the edge of a new millennium, we can't rest on our record. We need to rededicate ourselves. We need to set our sights on the future. Thanks to you, it will forever be a future of open spaces. Because of the legislature's commitment and the voters approval, New Jersey, its honest way toward an historic achievement, saving one million more acres of open space in farmland. No other state has dedicated as much of its land to preservation.

I want to thank sponsors Rich Bagger, Steve Coradimus and Leonard Lance and John Bennett, Tony Bucco, Bob Letell and Bob Martin in the Senate. In Washington, they're talking this week about making an unprecedented commitment to open space. If they want to see how it's done, I say look to New Jersey. I want to make our commitment even more visible. I want everyone in this state to share an art journey toward one million acres. And I want others who visit New Jersey to watch us reach our goal. So today I am creating a garden state open space registry, an acre by acre ledger of our progress toward this history making goal. With the assistance and the council and New Jersey outdoors, we will mark down every farm parcel preserved, every acre of open space purchased, every patch donated to a land trust.

What's more, we will plot our progress on signs like this one posted in prominent locations around New Jersey and on the state's website. Citizens and visitors alike will know where we stand. I hope they will also get to know some of the generous people who are helping us reach that goal. I would now like to introduce you to some of them, some of the first people to sign their names into the registry. Steve Lyon. Steve and his extended family are donating 3,500 acres of their land in Ocean County to the Nature Conservancy. Meet Fred and Gail Gardner of Ringoes. They donated the development rights for their 57 acre farm to the Agricultural Development Committee for Farmland Preservation.

Their donation saved the state $340,000. Meet Gus and Jane Knight. They sold their 205 acre farm in Morris County at below market price to the New Jersey Conservation Foundation. Better yet, the sale of their farm helps spark the acquisition of the farm next door giving us even more acres. The Lyon's gardeners and knights believe that there are other people like them who care about the future of the garden state. Other people are willing to make a difference. I think so too. I hope that these generous people will serve to inspire the hundreds and thousands of other New Jersey families who may be in a position to help.

I want to say again, thank you very much to each and every one of you. I want to provide more than inspiration. As Senator Bill Gormley has suggested, we should make a financial commitment to those who donate as well. If you do your part to keep New Jersey green, you ought to be able to keep a little more green in your wallet. I'm working with the legislature to create a special cash incentive for land donation in the state of New Jersey. With this initiative, I am confident that we will be able to exceed our original projection for open space donations. This means that we will be able to meet our million acre goal and have money left over to address an equally vital concern, our parks and our playgrounds. Our cities and towns need help to build new ball fields, swing sets, pathways and other park facilities so that no child will have to travel miles to play.

Today, I am pleased to propose that our stable source of funding include $100 million over the next decade for urban, suburban and rural park development. In addition, with this year's budget, we will put more money toward improvements at our state parks, and we will increase state park operating funds so that we can hire 100 more park rangers and maintenance workers. The people have shown that they care about our open spaces. Let's rededicate ourselves to carrying out the will of the people. One million acres. This is our mandate. This is our moment. This is our gift to the future of the state that we are proud to call home. We all care about open space, but we share other bonds as well, the bonds of family. We strive to make New Jersey the best, not only for ourselves, but also for the ones we love.

We should first look to our heritage, our parents and grandparents who did so much to make this state what it is. We want our aging parents to continue to call New Jersey home and get the best care and treatment possible. Consider the progress that we have made in giving families more options for long-term care. There were no assisted living facilities in New Jersey five years ago. Today, there are more than 70 with many more in the works, and we now have 13 agencies licensed to place frail elderly in alternate family care or adult foster care. But even that's not good enough. There are still too many seniors being automatically shuttled from hospitals into nursing homes. I want a New Jersey where no one has to go into a nursing home unless they absolutely have to be there or want to be there.

How do we make that happen? First, we must talk with seniors and their families before they leave the hospital to find out what they need, and then we must give them solid alternatives. For one person, the solution could be assisted living. For another family, respite care could be the answer. Every senior is unique, and we must tailor our programs to meet their needs. Last year we got the ball rolling. We helped 200 seniors move out of nursing homes and into the community, and we know there are many more who could make that same transition. So I'm pleased to announce, in this, the International Year of Older Persons, a comprehensive $60 million commitment to seniors and caregivers phased in over three years, a statewide effort to give them every possible option for long term care. We will start this year by helping at least 1,000 seniors who are now in nursing homes receive care in the community instead.

By the end of my term, we expect to interview 43,000 seniors in hospitals in nursing homes and help as many as possible move back into the community. The more seniors we can reach, the more dollars we can reinvest in community care and help for the caregivers. Who are these caregivers? They could be you or your neighbor. In New Jersey, one out of every four households is caring for an elderly relative. 64% of caregivers are juggling a full or part-time job with the demands of their caregiving role. Most of us are unprepared for the test. Our loved ones can go from independence to dependence almost overnight, forcing us to make very painful and difficult decisions about their care without the time to find all the answers or even know where to begin asking the questions. At that moment, caregivers ought to have all the support they need, whether that decision means a nursing home or some other form of long term care.

Assemblywoman Carol Murphy, the outstanding chair of the New Jersey Council Advisory Council on Elder Care, heard firsthand from caregivers around the state about their struggles. For example, Ivonne Thomas, a licensed practical nurse, is caring for her 97-year-old mother. She says, in spite of my experience, when it came time to care for my mother, I didn't have the wherewithal. To Ivonne and three quarters of a million caregivers in this state, I'm proud to announce that we will give you more support than ever before. What you do is not only compassionate, it also saves us the expense of nursing home care, and we should do all we can to encourage you. So for the first time, the state will provide assistance to qualified family caregivers who provide needed services for their elderly relatives at home. We'll start with a commitment in four counties, but by the end of my term, we intend to take this program statewide.

For caregivers, I recognize your devotion. I know how exhausting your work can be. I've been there. That's why the plan I am announcing today will also provide more respite care so that you can take a break every now and then. Before at it, we want to make finding out about respite care, assisted living, or for that matter any senior service, just a phone call away. Anyone who has tried to get help for a senior can tell you that knowing who to call and what to ask is half the battle. That's why we have set up toll-free senior hotlines and counties all around the state. We call it New Jersey ease. Now we want to make it even easier. I'm pleased to announce that starting today, we are instituting one New Jersey ease toll-free number for all of the garden state.

That number is 1-877-222-3737. This means that if your elderly mother lives in Mercer County and you live in Hudson County, you'll have one number to call to find out what services are available in her community. You'll be getting the answers from a real person, not a recording, and that's going to make a difference no matter where you live. While we rededicate ourselves to a better New Jersey by helping senior citizens, we also need to help our youngest citizens, our children. First and foremost, we must make sure that they're healthy. Last year, I announced New Jersey Kid Care, a plan to provide affordable health insurance to more than 100,000 children. This plan was sponsored by Marion Kreco and Jerry Zekker in the Assembly and Jackson Ogrin the Senate.

My ultimate goal is to make health insurance available to every child in this state. Today, I am taking three more steps to achieve that goal. First, I am pleased to announce that we will expand Kid Care coverage. We will now serve children and families up to 350% of the federal poverty level with family contributions on a sliding scale based on income. Second, I want to create a mechanism to help small businesses provide health insurance that both they and their employees can afford. So I am directing my children's health insurance work group to hammer out a plan within 90 days. And finally, I have directed the Commissioner of Human Services to cut the waiting time for Kid Care coverage from one year to six months starting right now. That means thousands more children won't have to wait one day more than necessary to get help.

Gail Gibbs of Robling knows the value of New Jersey Kid Care. Once she couldn't afford medication for her son's attention deficit disorder. Today, that medication is helping him achieve in school on an equal footing with his classmates. We're keeping our children healthy. Let's also rededicate ourselves to keeping them safe. Crime in New Jersey is down. But we have seen enough youth violence nationwide to recognize the dangers our kids face. Those school shootings last week and last year were in other states. Next time, it could be our state, our kids, our tragedy. We have already invested state funds to help new gun owners to free the cost of safety locks. Now I want to take the next step. Today, I'm proposing legislation to require that every gun sold in New Jersey either include the new smart gun technology will be fitted with a safety lock. I don't want one more gun sold in this state.

I don't want one more gun sold in this state without building protection for our children. While we're taking care of our children's health and safety, we're also doing more to strengthen their minds. Every parent sings the praises of a good teacher. By the same token, we cringe when our child gets a teacher whose skills are up to speed. New Jersey does not want for new teachers, but New Jersey does want the best teachers. That's why I am proposing several initiatives that will help us keep our teacher qualifications high. Right now, we require education graduates from New Jersey colleges to carry a C-plus average to qualify as a candidate for certification. Well, C-plus isn't good enough. So I'm asking the State Board of Education to require all new graduates who apply for certification to carry at least a B-Average.

Raising the requirements for every candidate will raise the academic quality of all teachers across the board. New Jersey children deserve the finest teachers our schools can recruit. So I will also direct the Department of Education to step up its efforts to help school districts recruit prospects from top universities here at home and across the nation. I want outstanding students at Princeton and Rutgers, Boston College and UVA to think about pursuing careers as teachers in the garden state. Finally, as we work to strengthen the profession, I want to draw on one of our state's greatest resources, the very best teachers we already have. We're fortunate that in this audience are a good number of our county teachers of the year and I ask them to stand so we can show them our appreciation.

Thank you. These men and women are doing a wonderful job. Let's invite them to inspire the next generation of teachers. This year, I will work to create a voluntary exchange program between our 21 Teachers of the Year winners and Education faculty at New Jersey Colleges. As I see it, everyone will benefit from these one-year job exchanges. Our schools will get the expertise of skilled college teacher trainers and undergraduates will gain from outstanding role models coming straight from our public school classrooms. As you can see, I want us to rededicate ourselves to creating a new Jersey with the best teachers.

I also want to get personally involved in helping our students achieve their best. I invite you to turn your attention to the balcony, maybe a little difficult to see, but up there, you will find 200 very special guests, fourth graders from our schools around Mercer County. On a day that we rededicated building to the great New Jersey heroes of our past, these young people represent the future of the garden state. As you know, fourth grade is the year that students in the garden state learn about New Jersey history and government. We brought these students to Trenton today to let them see state government firsthand. Now I want to bring Trenton to fourth graders around the state. So this year, in adding to the commitment to volunteerism I made last January, I will volunteer to teach the New Jersey history curriculum in fourth grade classes every month. What's more, what's more, I invite members of the legislature and anyone else.

And anyone else with special knowledge of New Jersey government to share that experience in the classroom. There are a few better ways to invest your time than in helping young people reach the high standards that we have set for them. Our public schools are the foundation of a well educated, highly skilled citizenry, but learning is a lifelong pursuit. I want to ensure that every New Jersey citizen has ongoing educational opportunities. We know that many New Jerseyans would like to earn college credits, but are unable to attend a traditional college. We know that being a single parent or not having transportation can stand in the way of pursuing a degree.

And we know that New Jersey's businesses need ready access to training that our colleges offer. So today, I am pleased to announce an initiative that will put distance learning only a keyboard away. Today, I am opening the doors to what we call the New Jersey virtual university. This initiative provides an online index of distance learning courses offered by colleges and universities across the state. And it invests $500,000 to help faculty learn how to best incorporate this technology into their curriculum. Individuals and employers can visit the website to learn more, learn about more than 800 offerings available over the internet or through other technologies. Log on to njview.org and discover that you can earn a master's degree in engineering for the New Jersey Institute of Technology, or an associate's degree at Atlantic Community College.

In fact, the variety of distance learning opportunities is already as diverse as New Jersey itself. Distance learning will never replace the traditional classroom, but it can bring higher education to those who can't reach the classroom. And by helping our institutions reach well beyond our state borders, the virtual university will put New Jersey at the forefront of distance education. Let's make the garden state all that it can be. Look how far we have already come. Together, we tackle the problem of auto insurance. Together, we put standards and accountability back into our schools. Together, we help thousands of urban families achieve the American dream of home ownership. Together, we made open space a lasting legacy for the garden state.

Together, we cut the income tax. What's more, I look forward to signing Jack Collins and Joe Doria's bill that will take another 200,000 low income New Jersey and off the income tax rolls altogether. But you know and I know that we can't make New Jersey the best place in which to live and work and raise a family until we rededicate ourselves to removing the biggest obstacle that remains in our path, rising property taxes. Over the past five years, with hard work from legislators like Mike Arnone, Guy Tallarika, Barbara Wright, Paul Kramer and Sam Thompson, state government has done its share to help local governments and their property taxpayers. Record amounts of school aid, a restructured utility tax delivering reliable and higher amounts of local aid, $200 million a year in property tax deductions on the income tax. $35 million in consolidation incentives recommended by my property tax commission, an absolute property tax freeze from more than 250,000 seniors.

I'll match what we've done on property taxes against the record of any other governor and any other legislature in the history of this state. It's time to do more. As you know, Senate President DeFrancisco has suggested that we address this problem by tying state municipal aid increases to the rate of inflation. I initially had some reservations about the proposal, but because the Senate president has insisted that the additional aid spell tax relief, not simply more spending, I am pleased to announce today that I will support his plan. Thank you. Taxpayers of New Jersey, this proposal does something to help your mayors hold down municipal property taxes.

Now I want to do something to help you deal with the biggest part of your property tax bill, the school tax. I said during the campaign that I would put property tax relief at the top of my second term agenda. I said you deserve to keep more of your hard earned money. Today, I deliver on that promise. I am proud to propose the single most significant property tax relief that New Jersey has ever provided. $1 billion in direct relief that will go straight from the state house to your house. $1 billion. That's on top of our homestead rebate program. That's on top of our property tax deduction. And best of all, it's a check that will be there for you every single year.

Under my plan, the state will offset the school taxes each homeowner pays on the first $45,000 of assessed value on that home, providing in effect an average of 33% discount. We will phase in this plan over the next five years, and we will make sure that every senior who now gets a homestead rebate will get that check or a check from this new program whichever is larger. To help renters who aren't seniors, we will increase the homestead tenant credit to $100 and offer to any renter earning up to $100,000. What will this proposal mean to a New Jersey family once it takes full effect? It will mean an average check for $600 every year. Of course, $600 is an average. We structured this proposal so that those saddled with the highest school taxes will get the most help.

So in Pensacan, you can expect $760. Families in nearby Hamilton Township will get back about $690. West Orange about $740 and deferred about $540. Let me be clear, this $1 billion tax relief program will require fiscal discipline from those of us in Trenton. Fiscal discipline means being very cautious about any new spending programs. Fiscal discipline means constantly reminding ourselves that the number one priority is helping you, the taxpayer. The fiscal discipline that we show today will deliver a check to you tomorrow. Join me in urging the legislature to act by April 15 so you can get your first check as soon as possible. If we make this happen by tax day, I'll send you your first check by Labor Day. My fellow citizens, you asked for property tax relief and I intend to give it to you a billion times over.

These then are my priorities for the coming year. We will begin our journey toward 1 million acres of open space in farmland. We will help those caring for aging parents. We will continue to improve our schools and keep our children safe. We will expand opportunities for lifelong learning and we will tackle property taxes. Ladies and gentlemen, five years ago I took my oath in this hall. Look how much we have accomplished since then. Today our future is as promising as this building is magnificent. Today from Hohokas to Hamilton, more people are working than ever before. Today from Paul's brood of Patterson, our streets are their safest in a quarter century. Today from and over to Atlantic City, our families have access to good health care and schools that are improving every day.

Now it is time to tackle the challenges of a new millennium. Just as we gather to rededicate this building, we must rededicate ourselves to the tasks that lie ahead. Just as we pay respect to the men and women for whom this building was dedicated, we must respect the public trust by doing the will of the people. Just as we expand the roster of New Jersey heroes honored here today, we must expand our efforts to serve the people that they fought to protect. Their bodies lie at rest, but their example live on. These New Jersey heroes died to keep us free. Let us honor their lives not only by the cement and ornament of this great building, but also by the real work each of us does to build a safer, more secure, more prosperous state of New Jersey. Because when we do, great things happen. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. I ask you all please take your seats. Good afternoon to all of you ladies and gentlemen out with us today and thank you for being here. This is a proud day for New Jersey veterans, indeed for all of New Jerseyans. This magnificent building erected by the people in honor of those who fought and died in

the First World War has been restored to its former glory. It is once again a fitting monument to all those New Jerseyans who have answered America's call. To begin our rededication of the war memorial, it is my honor and privilege to introduce a decorated combat veteran of Vietnam, Mr. John Whitman. Thank you General Glazer. This is a proud day for New Jersey's veterans. Over the past five years I've had the honor to accompany the governor on numerous events honoring our men and women in uniform and to represent her at many others. Everywhere I've gone, I have found that our veterans pride New Jersey and in America is matched only by our pride in them and that is as it should be.

Now I'd like to call your attention to the video screens on either side for a brief salute to New Jersey's veterans. Today is a day of dedication. Today we dedicate a monument, today we dedicate a memory. These are the times that try men's souls.

The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will in this crisis shrink from the service of their country. The key that stands it now, deserve the love and thanks of man and woman. Thank you. In revisiting the times in which our nation was at war, we honor the bravery and selflessness

with patriotism of the men and women who fought for liberty and for justice. Sixty-seven years ago this building was dedicated to the memory of the veterans of the First World War, at that time it was thought to be the war to end all wars. On the north facade of the war memorial there is an inscription to soldiers who lost their lives in the Great War. That inscription has always had a special meaning for me and I would like to share it with you now. It reads, they shall not grow old as we who are left grow old. At the going down of the sun in the morning we shall remember them. Those lines capture the spirit in which this magnificent building was built and the spirit in which it has been restored. For five years we have worked to bring this building back to its former grandeur. It is now a fitting symbol of our gratitude and commitment to New Jersey's veterans.

As we rededicate the war memorial, we do so in honor and memory of all New Jersey veterans, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice for this state and for their country. Joining us today to help in the rededication of the war memorial are veterans of each of America's wars this century. First I would like to introduce Sheldon Gamel and Jennifer Johnson, veterans of the Gulf War who are now stationed at the Marine Reserve Center in West Trenton. I would also like to introduce Richard Martin of Paramas who served in the Vietnam War. That is Robert Yancey of Florence of Veteran of the Korean War.

Please also welcome Stephen Greg from Bayon and Nicholas Orresco of Tenefly who both served in World War II, where they each earned the nation's highest award for valor, the Congressional Medal of Honor. Thank you. Finally, please join me in welcoming Charles Colton from Martin New Jersey who served in the

First World War, Mr. Colton turned 100 this past Saturday, and I speak for all of us. The war memorial is a testimony to the dignity and heroism of New Jersey's veterans. I would like to ask all the veterans in the audience to stand so that we can show our appreciation

to them so the rest of you sit down and the veterans stay up. Today is we pay our respects to the heroic men and women who have served our own forces. Let us also remember those who are now on active duty in harm's way and wish them all of God's protection. Now it is my honor to unveil a plaque commemorating the rededication of the war memorial. This plaque will be displayed on the war memorial's court of honor as a permanent reminder of this day. To commemorate today's events, I authorize the striking of a medallion which I am now honored

with the Governor's help present to this distinguished group. Thank you. 友 but not fully comfortable and simple.

Now I'd like everyone to stand and observe a period of silence. And honor and tribute to those brave New Jerseyans who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our country. And honor and tribute to those brave New Jerseyans who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our country.

And honor and tribute to those brave New Jerseyans who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our country. And honor and tribute to those brave New Jerseyans who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our country. And honor and tribute to those brave New Jerseyans who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our country. And honor and tribute to those brave New Jerseyans who made the ultimate sacrifice.

And honor and tribute to those brave New Jerseyans who made the ultimate sacrifice. And honor and tribute to those brave New Jerseyans who made the ultimate sacrifice. And honor and tribute to those brave New Jerseyans who made the ultimate sacrifice.

And honor and tribute to those brave New Jerseyans who made the ultimate sacrifice. And honor and tribute to those brave New Jerseyans who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our country. Glory, glory, hallelujah. His truth is marching on.

And honor and tribute to those brave New Jerseyans who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our country. Glory, glory, hallelujah. His truth is marching on. And honor and tribute to those brave New Jerseyans who made the ultimate sacrifice.

And honor and tribute to those brave New Jerseyans who made the ultimate sacrifice. And honor and tribute to those brave New Jerseyans who made the ultimate sacrifice. And honor and tribute to those brave New Jerseyans who made the ultimate sacrifice.

And honor and tribute to those brave New Jerseyans who made the ultimate sacrifice. To close these ceremonies.