State of New Jersey
Executive Order #82

Governor James E. McGreevey

WHEREAS, Sergeant Joel Perez, a resident of the State of New Jersey, attended Barringer High School in Newark before returning to Puerto Rico and graduating from high school there; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Perez subsequently returned to New Jersey and enlisted in the United States Army in 1998, where he became a highly decorated soldier; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Perez served proudly as a member of the U.S. Army's 2nd Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, and was deployed to Iraq in the service of his country; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Perez was a courageous soldier, a loving husband, son and brother and a devoted father; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Perez has made the ultimate sacrifice, giving his life in the line of duty while fighting for our country, and has been awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart posthumously; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Perez' 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, JAMES E. McGREEVEY, 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 Friday, November 7, 2003, in recognition and mourning of Sergeant Joel Perez.

  2. This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this day of in the Year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Three, and of the Independence of the United States, the Two Hundred and Twenty-Eighth.

/s/ James E. McGreevey

Governor

[seal]

Attest:

/s/ Michael R. DeCotiis

Chief Counsel to the Governor