GOVERNOR CORZINE ORDERS FLAGS TO FLY AT HALF-STAFF TO HONOR U.S. ARMY PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ERIC R. WILKUS

TRENTON – In honor of U.S. Army Private First Class Eric R. Wilkus, Governor Jon S. Corzine signed the following Executive Order calling for the United States and New Jersey flags to fly at half-staff on Friday, January 5, 2007.

The full text of the Executive Order is below.

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 48

WHEREAS, U.S. Army Private First Class Eric R. Wilkus, of Hamilton, New Jersey, an emergency medical technician and a member of the White Horse Volunteer Fire Company, graduated from Hamilton High School West in 2004, where he was a member of the Hornet Band; and

WHEREAS, Private First Class Wilkus loved his country and subsequently enlisted in the U.S. Army; and

WHEREAS, Private First Class Wilkus served proudly in the 57TH Military Police Company, 8th Military Police Brigade, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, Private First Class Wilkus made the ultimate sacrifice, on behalf of his country, when he died on December 25, 2006, as a result of injuries suffered in the line of duty while serving in the United States Army in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, Private First Class Wilkus was a committed and professional soldier and a loving son and brother, whose memory lives in the hearts of his family; and

WHEREAS, Private First Class Wilkus’s patriotism and dedicated service to his country and his fellow soldiers make it appropriate and fitting for the State of New Jersey to remember him and his family, 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 January 5, 2007, in recognition and mourning of U.S. Army Private First Class Eric R. Wilkus of Hamilton, New Jersey.

2. This Order shall take effect immediately.