New Jersey Administrative Code › Title - EXECUTIVE ORDERS › Title 55 - CHRIS CHRISTIE › Section - Executive Order No. 353 (2024)

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 14, July 15, 2024
Governor Philip D. Murphy
Executive Order No. 353 (2024)
An Order Directing that the Flags of the USA and New Jersey Shall Be Flown at Half-Staff at All State Departments, Offices, Agencies, and Instrumentalities During Appropriate Hours on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, in Recognition and Mourning of United States Army Reserve Sergeant William Jerome Rivers
Issued: February 2, 2024.
Effective: February 2, 2024.
WHEREAS, United States Army Reserve Sergeant William Jerome Rivers was a native of Willingboro, New Jersey; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Rivers enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2011 as an interior electrician and was first assigned to the 990th Engineer Company at Fort McGuire-Dix in New Jersey after completing advanced individual training; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Rivers completed a nine-month rotation in Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve in 2018; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Rivers was assigned to 718th Engineer Company, 926th Engineer Battalion, 926th Engineer Brigade in Fort Moore, Georgia in 2023; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Rivers resided in Carrollton, Georgia with his wife and son; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Rivers received numerous awards and decorations for his service to our country, including the Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, two Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbons, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" Device, and the Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal with Campaign Star; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Rivers, along with Specialist Kennedy Ladon Sanders and Specialist Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, were killed, and many others were wounded, on January 28, 2024, in an unmanned aerial drone attack on United States service members stationed in Jordan, where they were serving in support of Operation Inherent Resolve; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Rivers was a beloved member of our New Jersey family, as well as a beloved son, husband, father, friend, and fellow servicemember, who will be immensely missed by everyone who knew him, and by the people of New Jersey; and
WHEREAS, it is with tremendous sadness that we mourn the passing of Sergeant Rivers and his fellow soldiers, and we extend our deepest sympathy and gratitude to Sergeant Rivers' family, friends, and fellow service members; and
WHEREAS, it is appropriate to honor the exemplary character, outstanding achievements, and cherished memory of Sergeant Rivers and to mark his passing;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, PHILIP D. MURPHY, 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 Tuesday, February 6, 2024, in recognition and mourning of United States Army Reserve Sergeant William Jerome Rivers.
2. This Order shall take effect immediately.