State of New Jersey
Executive Order #98

Governor Jon S. Corzine

WHEREAS, United States Army Corporal Steven R. Koch, of Milltown, New Jersey, enlisted in the Army in March 2006; and

WHEREAS, Corporal Koch was a highly dedicated paratrooper; and

WHEREAS, Corporal Koch was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina; and

WHEREAS, Corporal Koch was a dedicated soldier as well as a loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend, whose memory lives in the hearts of his family and fellow soldiers; and

WHEREAS, Corporal Koch died in Afghanistan from wounds suffered in combat operations while serving as a member of the United States Army; and

WHEREAS, Corporal Koch has received some of our nation’s highest military honors, including the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge and the Parachutist’s Badge; and

WHEREAS, Corporal Koch’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 New Jersey shall be flown at half-staff at all State departments, offices, agencies, and instrumentalities during appropriate hours on Thursday, March 13, 2008, in recognition and mourning for a son of New Jersey and a brave and loyal American, United States Army Corporal Steven R. Koch.

  2. This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this 10th day of
March, Two Thousand and Eight, and of the
Independence of the United States, the Two
Hundred and Thirty-Second.

/s/ Jon S. Corzine

Governor

[seal]

Attest:

/s/ Edward J. McBride, Jr.

Chief Counsel to the Governor