Jay Boxwell announced as Grand Marshall
Cranford VFW Post #335 has announced that the Grand Marshall of this year’s Memorial Day Parade will be town resident Jay Boxwell. Boxwell is currently the NJ State Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.
Boxwell a Navy Veteran, saw active duty in Nicaragua, Libya with the 2nd Marine Division and the Persian Gulf, aboard the battleship, the USS Iowa. Of particular note, was the fact that as a Navy Corpsman he was on the personal medical staff of President Regan during a year of his term in office. He also accompanied President Regan during the 100th Anniversary celebration of the Statue of Liberty.
Under Bowell’s leadership as Cranford VFW Post Commander from 2015 – 2018, the Post was named an All America Post, one of the top 26 in the nation. He is also the recipient of the 2018 “Pride in Cranford” Award, an annual award given by the town Chamber of Commerce.
As State Commander he has made significant inroads in helping the Veterans Hospitals remedy the conditions which attributed to unacceptable death tolls among hospitalized veterans during the COVID crisis. He has testified at Senate and Assembly hearings about the horrific conditions at the Veterans Homes. “It simply was unconscionable to see the percentage of fatalities occurring to our Veterans. It was unlike anything in any other type of facility not just in our state but it was the worst in the county.” The immediate result was a privatization of the management of the State’s three veteran’s homes. He is currently working with Senate and Assembly leaders on a reorganization of the NJ Department of Military Affairs hoping to give better aid and assistance to NJ Guard members and their families.
A long-time Cranford resident, Boxwell lives with his wife, Sharon and his two daughters, Sophia and Briana who are currently attending college, and is employed by the NJ Department of Transportation.
