Governor Christie Orders Flags at Half-Staff for Fallen NJ Soldier Leroy DeRonde [VIDEO]

The following is Governor Chris Christie's Executive Order to fly the flags at half-staff for Army Private First Class Leroy DeRonde.

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 96

WHEREAS, United States Army Private First Class Leroy DeRonde

III grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey;

WHEREAS, Private First Class DeRonde entered the United

States Army in January 2011; and

WHEREAS, Private First Class DeRonde was assigned to

F Company, 125th Brigade Support Battalion attached to 2nd

Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team,

1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas; and

WHEREAS, Private First Class DeRonde was an honorable and

courageous young man who loved his country and the military; and

WHEREAS, Private First Class DeRonde tragically lost his life

in Chak-E Wardak District, Afghanistan, while supporting

Operation Enduring Freedom; and

WHEREAS, Private First Class DeRonde was a dedicated soldier

as well as a loving son and brother, whose memory lives in the

hearts of his family, friends, and fellow soldiers; and

WHEREAS, Private First Class DeRonde’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

2

appropriate hours on Friday, June 8, 2012, in recognition and

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

Private First Class Leroy DeRonde III.

2. This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this

6th day of June,

Two Thousand and Twelve,

and of the Independence of

the United States, the Two

Hundred and Thirty-Sixth.

[seal]

/s/Chris Christie

Governor

Attest:

/s/Charles B. McKenna

Chief Counsel to the Governor

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Here is the song that Jim always plays for any fallen soldier, Mstislav's Rostropovich's version of "Stars & Stripes Forever."