WHEREAS, United States Marine Corps Major John Charles Spahr, a native of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, attended Saint Joseph's Preparatory School in Philadelphia, where he played football, baseball and basketball, rowed for the School's Crew Team, was voted Best All-Around Athlete and graduated in 1981; and

WHEREAS, Major Spahr attended the University of Delaware, where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education and a Master's Degree in Exercise Physiology and was a member of the football team; and

WHEREAS, Major Spahr subsequently enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he completed his officer training in 1989 and thereafter attended the U.S. Navy's "Top Gun" Fighter Weapons School in 1996; and

WHEREAS, Major Spahr later served as an instructor pilot at the "Top Gun" School and was embarked aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Constellation when the Iraq war began in March 2003; and

WHEREAS, Major Spahr served proudly as Executive Officer of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323 in the Persian Gulf aboard the carrier U.S.S. Carl Vinson; and

WHEREAS, Major Spahr was a courageous pilot who had recently been named for a promotion to Lieutenant Colonel and was a loving father, son and brother; and

WHEREAS, Major Spahr has made the ultimate sacrifice, giving his life in the line of duty while fighting for our country; and

WHEREAS, Major Spahr's patriotism and dedicated service to his country make him a hero and a true role model for all Americans and, therefore, it is appropriate and fitting for the State of New Jersey to mark his passing and to honor his memory;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICHARD J. CODEY, Acting 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 the State of New Jersey shall be flown at half-staff at all State departments, offices, agencies and instrumentalities during appropriate hours on Wednesday, May 18, 2005, in recognition and mourning of United States Marine Corps Major John Charles Spahr.
   
   
2. This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this 17th day
of May in the Year of Our Lord, Two Thousand
and Five, and of the Independence of the United
States, the Two Hundred and Twenty-Ninth.

/s/ Richard J. Codey
Acting Governor

[seal]

Attest: