Flags Will be at Half Staff for US Army Specialist Jonathan Batista [VIDEO]

Take a moment Wednesday to remember the life and service of Kinnelon's US Army paratrooper Jonathan Batista. All flags will be flown at half-staff tomorrow to honor the memory of US Army specialist Batista. Here is the executive order from the Governor's Office:EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 99

WHEREAS, United States Army Specialist Jonathan Batista

graduated from Rutherford High School in 2007, before moving to

Kinnelon, New Jersey; and

WHEREAS, Specialist Batista entered the United States Army in

2010 and was assigned to Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 321st

Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd

Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; and

WHEREAS, Specialist Batista was an honorable and courageous

young man who loved his country and the military; and

WHEREAS, Specialist Batista tragically lost his life while

supporting Operation Enduring Freedom; and

WHEREAS, Specialist Batista was a dedicated soldier as well

as a loving husband and son, whose memory lives in the hearts of

his family, friends, and fellow soldiers; and

WHEREAS, Specialist Batista’s heroism, patriotism, and

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, CHRIS CHRISTIE, 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, July 18, 2012, in recognition

2

and mourning of a brave and loyal American hero, United States

Army Specialist Jonathan Batista.

2. This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this

16th day of July,

Two Thousand and Twelve, and

of the Independence of the

United States, the Two

Hundred and Thirty-Seventh.

[seal]

/s/ Chris Christie

Governor

Attest:

/s/ Charles B. McKenna

Chief Counsel to the Governor

Here is the song that Jim always plays for any fallen soldier in NJ, it is Mstislav’s Rostropovich’s version of “Stars & Stripes Forever.”