State of New Jersey
Executive Order #92

Governor Jon S. Corzine
WHEREAS, United States Army Sergeant Eric J. Hernandez was born in Newburgh, New York, and raised in West Milford, New Jersey; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Hernandez attended Macopin Middle School and West Milford High School, before receiving his high school diploma; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Hernandez was an avid outdoorsman with a passion for hiking, camping, archery, and shooting; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Hernandez volunteered for enlistment in the military in October 2003, and served two tours of duty in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Hernandez also served with the New Jersey National Guard, 2-113th Infantry Battalion, based in Riverdale, New Jersey; and

WHEREAS, during his military career, Sergeant Hernandez rose, in a short time, to the rank of a non-commissioned officer, and exemplified the finest qualities of a professional soldier; and

WHEREAS Sergeant Hernandez served with distinction and pride as a member of the United States Army's elite 101st Airborne Division, where he was a crack marksman; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Hernandez was planning a career in public service as a law enforcement officer; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Hernandez was killed in the vicinity of Bayji, Iraq, in the service of his country, during a time of war, while a member of the United States Army's 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne

Division (Air Assault), based in Fort Campbell, Kentucky; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Hernandez has received some of our nation's highest military honors, including the Combat Infantry Badge, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Expert Infantry Badge, the Air Assault Badge, and Weapons Qualification, M4 Expert; and

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

WHEREAS, Sergeant Hernandez's patriotism and dedicated service to his country and his fellow soldiers make it appropriate and fitting for the State of New Jersey to remember him and his family, 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 Friday, December 14, 2007, in recognition and mourning of a brave and loyal American hero, United States Army Sergeant Eric J. Hernandez.
  2. This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this 13th day
of December, Two Thousand and Seven, and
of the Independence of the United States, the
Two Hundred and Thirty-Second.

/s/ Jon S. Corzine

Governor

[seal]

Attest:

/s/ Kenneth H. Zimmerman

Chief Counsel to the Governor