Jon Bon Jovi and 1st Lt. Brian Brennan greet backstage at before
receiving their awards.
Buzz Aldrin, Brian Brennan and General David Petraeus chat backstage before the presentation of the Unsung Hero Award.
Jon asked his good friend Governor Corzine to present his Hall of Fame award.
Southside Johnny and Jon Bon Jovi brought the more than 2,000 people in their audience to their feet to sing “We’re Havin’ A Party”
Southside Johnny treated the crowd to his hit song “I Don’t Want To Go Home.”
Senator Bill Bradley, who was unable to accept his award in 2008, saluted the people of New Jersey in his acceptance speech.
Buzz Aldrin greets 1st Lt. Brian Brennan and Adele Springsteen backstage at the second annual induction ceremony.
Chef Buddy Valastro of Carlos Bakery in Hoboken poses with LaBamba at the end of the night. The Chef and his team created a fabulous cake to celebrate the evening.
As Southside Johnny and Jon Bon Jovi sang “We’re Having a Party,” everyone participating in the induction ceremony filled the stage to close the historic ceremony.
Daphne Fox, granddaughter of William Carlos Williams, accepts her grandfather’s award from Blondie’s Debby Harry and Governor Corzine.
Erin Moriarty from CBS News and Matt Pinfield from WPXP introduce the induction of Guglielmo Marconi.
Accepting the award for Marconi is Fred Carl of the InfoAge Science & History Center. Fred is joined by the Governor, Erin Moriarty and Matt Pinfield.
The granddaughters of F. Scott Fitzgerald receive the family’s award from Governor Corzine and novelist Carol Higgins Clark.
Gary U.S. Bonds sings his hit “New Orleans” accompanied by LaBamba and the Hubcaps.
The Hall of Fame honored four student essay contest winners (from left to right) Rebecca Guzman, Kiera O’Gorman, Joanie O’Sullivan and Emily Tu.
Accepting for Althea Gibson were Daniel Gibson and Fran Clayton Gray. They were introduced by Mayor David Dinkins and the Dr. Benjamin Chavis Muhammad.
Phil Rizzuto’s daughter Pat Rizzuto and Penny Yetto are joined by Phil’s granddaughter Jennifer and his closest friend Yogi Berra.
Paul Robeson Jr. accepted on behalf of his father from novelist and New Jersey Hall of Fame inductee Toni Morrison and actor Avery Brooks.
Carl Sagan’s widow Ann Druyan addresses the crowd joined by San Sagan and Nick Sagan.
David Stedman of the Walt Whitman Foundation accepts Whitman’s induction at the beginning of the ceremony, joined by Governor Corzine, David Grant of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and Adrienne Supino of NJN.
William Carlos Williams was well represented by his large and enthusiastic family.
David Grant and Adrienne Supino collaborate to induct poet Walt Whitman to the New Jersey Hall of Fame.
Newark singer Kat DeLuna sings her popular dance hit “Whine Up.”
