WHEREAS, Major General Gerard enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces in 1942 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1943; and

WHEREAS, during combat service in World War II he logged over 420 hours in aerial combat and destroyed eight enemy fighters in aerial combat over Europe and was ranked as an “Ace”; and

WHEREAS, following his service in World War II Major General Gerard attended Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, received a Certification of Graduation from New Jersey’s Marshall Law College in 1949, and passed the New Jersey Bar Examination that same year; and

WHEREAS, he then joined the New Jersey Air National Guard, was recalled to active duty during the Korean war and the Berlin Crisis, and served the public in a range of positions in government, including commanding the 108th Tactical Fighter Wing and serving as special assistant to the Commander-in-Chief, Strategic Air Command for the Air National Guard, and Commander of the New Jersey Air National Guard; and

WHEREAS, in 1982, Major General Gerard became Adjutant General of New Jersey under Governor Thomas H. Kean and served in that capacity for seven years until his retirement from military and public service in 1989; and

WHEREAS, Major General Gerard’s medals and decorations include the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star, Defense Superior Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 11 Oak Leaf Clusters, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle East Campaign Medal with six Battle Stars, National Defense Service Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Award, Secretary of Defense Identification Badge, Small Arms Expert, and USAF Outstanding Unit Award; and

WHEREAS, it is with deep sadness that we mourn the loss of Major General Gerard and extend our sincerest sympathy to his family and friends;

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, November 12, 2008 in recognition and mourning of the passing of Major General Francis R. Gerard.
   
   
2. This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this 7th day
of November, Two Thousand and Eight, and of
the Independence of the United States, the Two
Hundred and Thirty-Third.

/s/ Richard J. Codey

Acting Governor

[seal] 

Attest:

/s/ Edward J. McBride, Jr.