POINT PLEASANT — Mel Russen was honored by the Point Pleasant Rotary Club for his contributions to the Point Pleasant Community.
Mr. Russen received the Paul Harris Fellow recognition, which is the highest honor a Rotary Club can award any member or citizen of the community.
John Barone, president of the Point Pleasant Rotary Club, said Mr. Russen is an “outstanding citizen. He has done a lot in our town for a number of things…he is a well deserved gentleman.” Mr. Barrone said he has known Mr. Russen for over 20 years, and that his work for fallen and current veterans, military families and anyone in need is “nonstop.” He further said, “He is a very selfless person. He fits within [the rotary club’s] mantra, service above self. He is just an outstanding guy.”
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Mr. Russen is a part of Wreaths Across America, a national nonprofit that places wreaths on all veterans’ graves around the country during the holidays. This year, the wreaths will be placed on December 16.
For the last 13 years, Mr. Russen has worked to ensure all fallen veterans of the Point Pleasant and greater Ocean County communities are honored with a wreath placed upon their grave. He said last year he placed over 3,000 for fallen veterans, which is just a drop in the ocean for the over two million wreaths placed in over 3,700 locations across the country.
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