Valentin receives medal of honor at Ellis Island

Luis Valentin

Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis A. Valentin was among 100 people honored for their outstanding contributions by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO) during a special awards ceremony on Ellis Island in New York Harbor May 12.

Established in 1986 by NECO, the Ellis Island Medals of Honor pay tribute to the ancestry groups that comprise America's cultural mosaic. Past medallists include six U.S. presidents as well as Nobel Prize winners and leaders of industry, education, arts, sports and government, according to a press release.

NECO is an umbrella group for more than 200 ethnic organizations. Its mandate is to preserve ethnic diversity, promote ethnic and religious equality, tolerance and harmony, and to combat injustice, hatred and bigotry. Ellis Island Medal of Honor recipients are selected each year through a national nomination process.

Among other criteria, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor is awarded to individuals who exemplify a life dedicated to community service, contribute distinguished service to humanity and share their personal and professional gifts with the local, national or international community.

Additional recipients of 2007 Ellis Island Medals of Honor include: Her Excellency Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, president of the 61st Session of the United Nations General Assembly; Rev. John I. Jenkins, president of the University of Notre Dame, U.S. Congressman Tom Lantos, chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and founder and co-chairman of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus; U.S. Congressman Carlos Romero-Barcelo, a former mayor of San Juan and governor of Puerto Rico; and Guillermo Linares, commissioner of the New York City Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs.

After receiving the award, Valentin said, "I am humbled and grateful to receive the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor. I will continue to strive to incorporate the ideals of tolerance, diversity, equality and justice for all into my civic and professional responsibilities."

Valentin is a 41-year-old bilingual attorney born and raised primarily in Newark. Valentin also lived and was educated in Puerto Rico - the birthplace of his parents.

Valentin began his legal career as an assistant prosecutor at the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office in 1990.

In April 1998, Valentin was appointed as an assistant United States attorney for the District of New Jersey where he worked in the Criminal Division, Frauds and Public Protection Division, and Special Prosecutions Division until 2003. In September 2003, Valentin was named chief of the Violent Crimes Unit by U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie.

Valentin was formally nominated on June 20, 2005, by acting Gov. Richard J. Codey to serve as Monmouth County prosecutor. He was sworn in to office on July 29, becoming the first Hispanic to serve as a county prosecutor in New Jersey.