A grand opening and ribbon-cutting for the township’s new Office of Veterans Affairs on Erial Road was celebrated by Mayor David Mayer, residents and local officials on July 30.
The office is adjacent to the township’s public works facility and will assist local veterans in finding crucial assistance for a range of issues. It is staffed by two veterans who can offer guidance and referrals for employment, housing, mental-health support and other services.
Mayer was joined at the grand opening by Congressman Donald Norcross, assemblymen Cody Miller and Dan Hutchinson, members of township council and residents.
The office’s staffers are local residents Anthony Santanello and Robert DiCesare. Santanello, a retired U.S. Air Force vet and active member of the American Legion, is passionate about preventing veteran suicide. DiCesare, who has a background in home mortgages, brings expertise to help vets with housing concerns.
This new office also underscores the township’s commitment to supporting its veterans.
“It was a great day to join Gloucester Township in opening their office of Veterans Affairs,” Mayer said at the opening. “This will make it easier for our heroes to access critical veteran support services.”
“As a member of (Congress’) House Armed Services Committee, I’m focused on supporting our service members, and I’ve seen first hand how hard the transition to civilian life can be,” Norcross noted.
“Our debt of gratitude doesn’t end when our service members hang up their uniforms,” he added. “It’s on all of us to work toward easing the burden of their sacrifices, and this new center will do just that.”
The new office also offers veteran residents a centralized location to access necessary resources. The percent of veterans living in Camden County is 5.8% – or 22,555 – who served from World War II through the Gulf wars, according to 2024 numbers. The state had nearly 300,000 vets in 2022, about 4% of its adult population.
