State of New Jersey
Executive Order #128

Governor Jon S. Corzine
WHEREAS, United States Army Major John P. Pryor was born in Mount Vernon, New York, and resided in Moorestown, New Jersey; and

WHEREAS, after graduating medical school from the State University of New York in Buffalo, Major Pryor moved to South Jersey for a fellowship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania; and

WHEREAS, Major Pryor joined the University of Pennsylvania’s surgical faculty and served as director of the hospital’s nationally recognized trauma program; and

WHEREAS, Major Pryor joined the United States Army in 2006, because he felt he had a duty to lend his surgical expertise in trauma to save Americans in combat; and

WHEREAS, upon learning of the pending deployment to Iraq, Major Pryor began studying the Arabic language so that he could better help the injured Iraqis he would treat; and

WHEREAS, Major Pryor was assigned to a forward surgical team with the Army’s 1st Medical Detachment, based in Fort Totten, New York; and

WHEREAS, Major Pryor died in Iraq, during a time of war while serving his second tour of duty as a combat surgeon of the United States Army; and

WHEREAS, Major Pryor was an exceptional man with a deep desire to help his fellow man by caring for the sick and injured, as well as a devoted husband, father, son, brother, and friend, whose passion for service to others stood out; and

WHEREAS, Major Pryor’s love for his family and friends, his patriotism, and 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 the State of New Jersey shall be flown at half-staff at all State departments, offices, agencies, and instrumentalities during appropriate hours on Monday, January 5, 2009, in recognition and mourning for a son of New Jersey and a brave and loyal American, United States Army Major John P. Pryor.

  2. This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this 2nd day of
January Two Thousand and Nine, and of the
Independence of the United States, the Two
Hundred and Thirty-Third.

/s/ Jon S. Corzine
Governor [seal]

Attest:

/s/ Robert Garrenger
Acting Chief Counsel to the Governor