GOVERNOR CORZINE ORDERS FLAGS TO FLY AT HALF-STAFF TO HONOR UNITED STATES ARMY STAFF SERGEANT WILLIAM R. NEIL, JR.

TRENTON – In honor of United States Army Staff Sergeant William R. Neil, Jr., Governor Jon S. Corzine signed the following Executive Order calling for the United States and New Jersey flags to fly at half-staff on Monday, March 31, 2008.

The full text of the executive order is below.

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 99

         WHEREAS, United States Army Staff Sergeant William R. Neil, Jr., was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, and graduated from Hudson Catholic High School; and 

         WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Neil enlisted in the United States Navy after graduation and served for four years before beginning a career on Wall Street; and

         WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Neil left his private sector career and returned to the Armed Forces to serve his country, re-enlisting in the United States Army as a supply specialist and serving with the 4th Ranger Training Battalion in Fort Benning, Georgia; and

         WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Neil successfully passed the Special Forces Qualification Course to become a Green Beret and was assigned to Company C, 3rd Battalion of the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina; and

         WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Neil was a dedicated soldier as well as a loving son, brother, uncle and friend, whose memory lives in the hearts of his friends, fellow soldiers, and family; and

         WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Neil died in Afghanistan from wounds suffered in combat operations while serving as a member of the United States Army; and

         WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Neil has received some of our nation’s highest military honors, including the Army Commendation Medal and six Army Achievement Medals and is expected to receive the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge posthumously; and

         WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Neil’s love for his family and friends, his patriotism, and his dedicated service to his country and his fellow soldiers make it appropriate and fitting for the State of New Jersey to mourn and remember him, to mark his passing, and to honor his memory;

         NOW, THEREFORE, I, JON S. CORZINE, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:

1. The flag of the United States of America and the flag of New Jersey shall be flown at half-staff at all State departments, offices, agencies, and instrumentalities during appropriate hours on Monday, March 31, 2008 in recognition and mourning for a son of New Jersey and a brave and loyal American, United States Army Staff Sergeant William R. Neil, Jr.

2. This Order shall take effect immediately.

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