Decorated veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan to speak at 9/11 ceremony

Jay Christy, a two-time Bronze Star recipient who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, will be keynote speaker at the 20th anniversary of 9/11 commemoration to be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 11, at Sussex County Community College in Newton.

The community is invited to attend the annual ceremony and join with others across America in remembrance and prayer. The gathering will reflect upon the innocent lives of those killed, pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives to save thousands of others, and remember all who helped in the rescue-recovery efforts at Ground Zero.

After joining the U.S. Army in May 2001, Christy served 13 years as an Airborne infantryman and non-commissioned officer. He completed four combat deployments, two to Iraq, including the initial invasion in 2003 and the withdrawal in 2011, both while assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Christy was deployed to Afghanistan from February 2005 until March 2006 with the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team out of Caserma Ederla, Vicenza, Italy, and redeployed quickly with Joint Special Operations Command from October 2006 until May 2007.

He is a two-time recipient of the Bronze Star service medal for actions in combat, as well as an Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device. His awards and citations also include the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Senior Jumpmaster Wings, and numerous Army commendations and campaign medals.

The Sheriff’s Honor Guard and numerous police and fire departments will be in attendance. Local vocalists and bagpipers will also bring their talents to the remembrance ceremony, where a wreath laying will also take place at the Monument.

The 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony is an annual event organized at the college by members of the Sussex County PBA Local #138. For more information call patrolman Mahir Kaylani, the County PBA delegate, at the Newton Police Department, 973-383-2525.