Soldiers returning from duty in Iraq were entertained by Holiday Express during festivities for the members of the New Jersey National Guard and their families June 12.

Some 2,875 returning National Guard soldiers and their families were treated to the homecoming event after taking part in a parade down Broad Street in Trenton.

Their historic return caps the state's largest combat-zone deployment since World War II and was marked by New Jersey's official homecoming parade through downtown Trenton followed by a private ceremony for the soldiers and their families at the Sovereign Bank Arena.

The Shrewsbury First Aid Squad has announced Meghan Vaidya is the recipient of the Tommy Maletto Award. The award is given in memory of Tommy Maletto, a charter member and founding member of the Shrewsbury First Aid Squad.

The award, a $1,000 U.S. Savings Bond, is given each year to a student graduating from Red Bank Regional High School, Little Silver, based on an essay on the topic of commitment to community service.

The squad also announced Abigail Gwyder is the recipient of the Betty Clark Memorial Award, a $500 U.S. Savings Bond given each year to a Shrewsbury Borough School eighth-grade graduate in memory of Clark, who lost her life in 1995 while serving as a school crossing guard.

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The Kortney Rose Foundation, Oceanport, is taking its cause on the run, and has been selected as a participating charity for New York Road Runners' ING New York City Marathon 2009, which will take place Nov. 1. This guarantees marathon runners who participate for Team Kortney entry in the race. Team Kortney members pledge to raise a minimum of $2,500 for the pediatric brain tumor research foundation. Kortney Rose Gillette lost her battle with pediatric brain cancer at age 9 in 2006. For more information, call Kristen Gillette at 732-222-1491, email kortneyroseorg@aol.com or visit www.TheKortneyRoseFoundation.org.

***** Holiday Express recently received a $10,000 donation from the Citi Employee Community Fund. The fund is a charitable giving program created by Citi employees to support community-based nonprofit organizations in the tri-state area. The fund receives support from an annual employee campaign and additional funding is received from the Citi Foundation.

The 2008 Citi Employee Community Fund targets its resources to support the work of community-based nonprofits working to meet the needs of economically disadvantaged people in the area.

Holiday Express is a nonprofit organization that delivers music, food, gifts, financial support and friendship to those with the greatest need for the gift of human kindness during the holiday season and throughout the year. For more information on Holiday Express, visit www.holidayexpress.org

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An Independence Day celebration will take place 4-10:30 p.m. July 3 at the Red Bank Elks lodge, 40 W. Front St. Doors will open at 4 p.m. Admission is by ticket only, and tickets are limited. The event will feature an "all you can eat" dinner, beer, wine and soda; and the fireworks on the Navesink viewed from the lodge. The cost is $50 for adults, $40 for ages 13-20, $20 for ages 5-12, and free for children younger than age 5, and $3 of the fee will benefit the Red Bank fireworks fund. Additional donations are welcome. For more information, call David at 732-996-0369 or Eileen at 732-741-2750.

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