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New Jersey Veteran Becomes New VFW National Junior Vice Commander

Duane Sarmiento

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Duane Sarmiento was elected Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. on Aug. 3, 2021, at the 122nd VFW National Convention in Kansas City, Missouri.

He served in the United States Navy from 1988 to 1997, and the United States Naval Reserve from 2002 to 2006, earning his VFW eligibility by serving in Operations Desert Shield/Storm. In recognition of his service, he received the Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Good Conduct Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal with three campaign stars, the Saudi Arabian Medal for the Liberation of Kuwait, Kuwait Medal for the Liberation of Kuwait and numerous other medals and ribbons. In 2003, he earned the title of the Naval Reserve Center Sailor of the Year at Fort Dix.

Duane joined the VFW in 1990 at Post 5579 in Gibbstown, New Jersey, where he maintains his Gold Legacy Life membership. He has served in elected and appointed positions at the Post, District and Department levels, culminating with his election as the VFW Department of New Jersey Commander from 2018 to 2019. On the national level, he has served on the National Security and Foreign Affairs Committee, General Resolutions Committee, as Special Aide-De-Camp, and as Inspector General from 2019 to 2020.

He retired as a police officer with the Greenwich Township Police Department and Gloucester County Sheriff’s Department in New Jersey. Duane was the director of Veterans Affairs in Gloucester County, New Jersey, retiring after 10 years of services.

He is also a member of the Fleet Reserve Association, Branch 57.

Duane and his wife, Ellen, reside in Gibbstown, New Jersey.

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