ACTING GOVERNOR CODEY ORDERS FLAGS TO FLY AT HALF-STAFF TO HONOR MARINE CORPS LANCE CORPORAL JON T. HICKS, JR.

TRENTON – In honor of Marine Corps Lance Corporal Jon T. Hicks, Jr., Acting Governor  Richard J. Codey signed the following Executive Order calling for the United States and New Jersey flags to fly at half-staff on Thursday, September 20.

The full text of the executive order is below.

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 82

            WHEREAS, United States Marine Corps Lance Corporal Jon T. Hicks, Jr., lived in Atco, Camden County, New Jersey, and graduated from Hammonton High School in 2005; and       

            WHEREAS, Lance Corporal Hicks enlisted in the United States Marines Corps in January 2006 following his graduation; and

            WHEREAS, Lance Corporal Hicks served his country proudly at home and abroad with the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; and

            WHEREAS, Lance Corporal Hicks was a committed and highly trained professional soldier, as well as a loving son, grandson, and brother, whose memory lives in the hearts of his family and fellow soldiers; and

            WHEREAS, Lance Corporal Hicks’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, RICHARD J. CODEY, Acting 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, September 20, 2007, in recognition and mourning of a brave and loyal American, United States Marine Corps Lance Corporal Jon T. Hicks, Jr.

2.         This Order shall take effect immediately.