State of New Jersey
Executive Order #68

Governor Jon S. Corzine
WHEREAS, United States Army Sergeant Sameer Rateb was raised and lived in both New Jersey and South Carolina; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Rateb played baseball as a member of the Brigantine Little League traveling team and also attended Woodbridge High School; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Rateb enlisted in the United States Army in 2004 motivated by the tragic events of 9/11; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Rateb served proudly in the United States Army as a member of the storied 82nd Airborne Division; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Rateb was deployed to both Afghanistan in 2004 and to Iraq, while volunteering for re-enlistment in the United States Army in 2007; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Rateb served proudly as a United States Army paratrooper; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Rateb's deployment on behalf of his country to combat theaters including Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduing Freedom, and Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, demonstrates the depth of his commitment and sacrifice; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Rateb perished in a combat theater during a time of war while assigned to the 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Rateb was a committed and highly trained professional soldier as well as a loving husband, son, brother and father, whose memory lives in the hearts of his family; and

WHEREAS, it is appropriate and fitting for the State of New Jersey to mark his passing, remember his family as they mourn their loss, and 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 Wednesday, May 16, 2007 in recognition and mourning of a brave and loyal American, U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Sameer Rateb.

  2. This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this 14th day
of May, Two Thousand and Seven, and of
the Independence of the United States, the
Two Hundred and Thirty-First.

/s/ Jon S. Corzine

Governor

[seal]

Attest:

/s/ Kenneth H. Zimmerman

Chief Counsel to the Governor