Army-Navy-Marine trio leads Ocean County Veterans’ Day Parade

This year's Ocean County Veterans' Day Parade in Toms River not only features all the pomp and cirumstance befitting military men and women past and present - this year, it has three grand marshals, too.

Navy veteran Leonard Mueller IV, ex-Marine Ken Hagemann and his Army-veteran wife Barbara carry the honors in a County tribute to the three service branches.

The parade steps off at 9:30 AM at the head of Main Street near Route 37, and proceeds straight downtown to Washington Street for a ceremony in front of Toms River Town Hall.

Toms River Mayor Thomas Kelaher, who achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Reserves, calls it "absolutely appropriate" to recognize the trio together.

"Our Veterans Day Parade is a symbol of how much we value the service of all of our veterans - those from past wars to those serving today, " Kelaher said. " It is important that as a community we remember to thank our veterans, today and every day."

Leonard Mueller IV has earned the Defense Meritorius Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Commendation Medal and two Navy Commendation medals.

He entered the Navy in 1973 and advanced to the Strategic Airborne Command and Control Mission. He also qualified as an EC-130Q Aircraft Commander, Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization Instructor, and Check Pilot, racking up more than 3,700 flight hours.

Leonard served in support of the National Command Authority in the Pacific, where he trained new pilots.

Twenty years after signing up, in 1993, Leonard reported to Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst as Executive Officer, Air Operations Officer and Maintenance Officer. By mid-2000, he served as Peculiar Support Equipment Program Manager for the KC-130J and H-1 Helicopter for Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Lakehurst

He retained his Peculiar Support Equipment Program Manager status when the Lakehurst installation was merged into Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst., and additionally became a certified Defense Acquisition Corps Officer.

Leonard also volunteers for Vietnam Veterans of America, the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, and Boy Scouts.

Ken Hagemann has received the Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbon, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and a Navy Sea Deployment Ribbon.

He served as a Scout-Sniper in the 2nd Marine Division. His five overseas deployments included air, sea and ground combat operations against Iranian Armed Forces.

Following his discharge, Ken spent 20 years in the Roselle Police Department, rising to the rank Lieutenant, and earning a spot on the Union Couhty SWAT TEam as a sniper and team leader.

He is the State Adjutant for the VFW Department of New Jersey, and remains active at A.J. Weeks VFW Post 6063 in Toms River.

Barbara Kim-Hagemann is the recipient of the Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Service Ribbon, and Kuwait Liberation Medals.

Barbara served active and reserve duty, beginning with her assignment as an illustrator in Mannheim, Germany. She took part in Operation Desert Shield/Storm in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, with the HHC 7th Transportation.

After active service, Barbara enrolled in Georgian Court College (now University) in Lakewood, and became a Veterans Service Officer in the Ocean County Veterans Service Bureau in Toms River.

Joining the Veterans of Foreign Wars in 1991, Barbara became its first woman to attain District Commander status in New Jersey. She is this year's Commander of Post 6063 in Toms River.

Barbara also became the first woman in New Jersey to earn the position of State Judge Advocate, and continues to serve in that capacity. She chairs the Women's Veterans Committee, and is on legislative committees addressing veterans' rights and benefits in Trenton and in Washington, D.C.