GOVERNOR CORZINE ORDERS FLAGS TO FLY AT HALF-STAFF TO HONOR UNITED STATES ARMY CAPTAIN THOMAS JOHN CASEY

TRENTON - In honor of United States Army Captain Thomas John Casey, Governor Jon S. Corzine signed the following Executive Order calling for the United States and New Jersey flags to fly at half-staff on Wednesday, January 23.

The full text of the executive order is below.

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 95

WHEREAS, United States Army Captain Thomas John Casey of Albuquerque, New Mexico, graduated from the University of New Mexico in 1996 and enlisted in the Army as a Spanish linguist; and

WHEREAS, Captain Casey was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant after graduating from Officer Candidate School and served as a Battlefield Intelligence Collection Controller after completing the Military Intelligence Officer Basic Course; and

WHEREAS, Captain Casey was assigned as the Executive Officer and Intelligence Officer for Military Transition Team 0511 advising 1^st Battalion, 1^st Brigade, 5^th Iraqi Army Division; and

WHEREAS, Captain Casey was a dedicated soldier as well as a loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend, whose memory lives in the hearts of his family, including his mother, who lives in Cape May Point, New Jersey, and in the hearts of his fellow soldiers; and

WHEREAS, Captain Casey was killed in Iraq, during a time of war while serving as a member of the United States Army; and

WHEREAS, Captain Casey has received some of our nation’s highest military honors, including the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, two Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Parachutist Badge, and the Combat Action Badge; and

WHEREAS, Captain Casey'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 Wednesday, January 23, 2008, in recognition and mourning of a brave and loyal American, United States Army Captain Thomas John Casey.