Those from New Jersey who served in the armed forces gathered at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Holmdel this Veterans Day for a special ceremony.

Veterans Affairs Commissioner Vincent Solomon, who is also an Army veteran, gave those who attended the event a sincere welcome.

He told those on hand, “Please know that we care deeply as a state collectively about those heroes who have sacrificed so much.”

Solomon was looking at the faces of former soldiers who still hold so much pride in their service, all fully aware they were at a service surrounded by a wall of names of soldiers who did not come home following their deployments.

This site in Holmdel holds the names of 1,500 New Jerseyans who died in the Vietnam War.

Retired Maj. Gen. Clark Martin spoke of what he feels on this day.

“You can’t stop and wonder, ‘Why did I make it and other people didn’t?’” Martin said.

The 82-year-old was an Air Force pilot who flew in 153 combat missions in Vietnam - 100 of those were over North Vietnam.

“The main thing you were worried about was surface-to-air missiles. If one of them came at you and you weren’t aware of it, you didn’t get to go home,” Martin said.

Also of importance during the ceremony were the veterans who made it home to New Jersey after serving overseas but who don’t have a place to live now. There is a new effort underway to house those 1,164 New Jersey veterans who are currently homeless.

Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way announced that $30 million in state and federal money will be spent over the next two years to reach out, connect, and provide housing for veterans.

“Outreach teams will also engage directly with veterans living in encampments or unsheltered conditions who lack access to resources,” Way said.

It’s an effort appreciated by all in this crowd, especially Gold Star mother Patricia Bye, of Lacey Township.

“The word homeless and veterans should never be used in the same sentence,” Bye said.

Solomon added, "With a state where our motto is, ‘Liberty and prosperity,’ I am so honored we are embarking on this project to effectively end veteran homelessness in the state and get all of those heroes to a place where they have a roof over their heads. Where they are comfortable and have a path to dignity."