Mendham, Chester ‘Heroes’ Picked By Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill

MENDHAM, NJ — A new program that recognizes people from NJ-11 who have made a difference this past year, includes a Mendham resident and people who volunteered within Chester.

U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill said she created the program as “an opportunity to remind our everyday heroes - teachers, healthcare providers, first responders, family members, volunteers or others who have impacted another person's life in a positive way— that our community is incredibly grateful for all of their work.”

Sherrill described the number of submissions her office received as an “outpouring,” with the following Mendham resident and Chester volunteers and what was submitted by those who nominated them, below:

George Budd, Mendham Township First Aid Squad Captain, Mendham
Nominated by a member of the First Aid Squad, Deputy Mayor Nick Monaghan
“2020 and 2021 have been tremendously difficult years for the entire globe. In our little town, our residents depended on our all volunteer first aid squad to continue to help in times of sickness, COVID related or not, and in all manners of emergency situations. George created an evolving set of protocols that enabled our squad to respond to our residents, while ensuring that our members were safe from spreading or contracting COVID, and that our residents received the care that they needed and deserved. His work was so impressive that in spite of many calls where we subsequently learned the patient was COVID positive, to my knowledge not one Mendham Township First Aid Squad member contracted COVID while on a patient call. Yes, it's a team effort and we all needed to adhere to the protocols, but George created the protocols, provided the leadership model, the protocols, and the training so we all knew, understood and could apply them. His work and dedication were, and are, exemplary. I say that as a past Captain and current Deputy Mayor. I see his work from many perspectives. George is a Hero to all of us on Mendham Township First Aid Squad, and all of us on the Mendham Township Committee. Thank you for your consideration and for this opportunity to recognize all of our heros!”

Travis and Ezekiel Ehrenberg, Students, Randolph
Nominated by their mother, Francine Ehrenberg
“During 2021 Travis and Ezekiel (Zeke) were members of the Sons of the American Legion Post 342 in Chester NJ. They volunteered to call our elderly Veterans on a weekly basis to check in with them and their families to see if they were healthy and needed any assistance. Also Travis and Zeke place flags on the graves of Veterans during Armed Forces Remembrance days.”

Ellen Feeney, Attorney, Caldwell
Nominated by her cousin, Kathleen Feeney
“Ellen Feeney is a full time attorney who has unselfishly and tirelessly cared for my Uncle who lived in Chester, NJ. While many of us have faced the challenges of caring for parents during Covid-19 pandemic, my cousin Ellen took it upon herself to keep my uncle safe, fed and cared for during the pandemic. With so many elderly people contracting the disease in nursing homes, Ellen stepped in to help our uncle, Rev. Joseph Murphy - Age 93, remain in his housing in Chester. Ellen shopped weekly for him and delivered him his groceries as well as his medications. She attended to his medical needs with doctor visits, etc. Unfortunately, my parents were going through a traumatic brain injury and cancer during the Pandemic. Ellen stepped in, on behalf of our parent's aging family, and cared for my uncle who had no one to care for him. My uncle just recently moved to assisted living, because he could no longer handle his daily medications. He has now contracted Covid-19. Now, more than ever, our family and the community is indebted to Ellen for her unselfish care she gave to the eldest living family member from the Murphy Family.”

Click to see the full list of heroes from NJ-11 at: www.sherrill.house.gov/2021-nj-11-heroes.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a local news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.