Office of the Governor: ACTING GOVERNOR ROBERTS ORDERS FLAGS TO FLY AT HALF-STAFF TO HONOR UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS FIRST LIEUTENANT JASON D. MANN

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

July 23, 2008

Contact: Sean Darcy
Jim Gardner
609-777-2600


TRENTON – In honor of United States Marine Corps First Lieutenant Jason D. Mann, Acting Governor Joseph J. Roberts, Jr. signed the following Executive Order calling for the United States and New Jersey flags to fly at half-staff on Friday, July 25, 2008.

  The full text of the executive order is below.

  EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 108



            WHEREAS, United States Marine Corps First Lieutenant Jason D. Mann was born and raised in Woodlynne, New Jersey; and

              WHEREAS, First Lieutenant Mann graduated from Collingswood High School in Collingswood, New Jersey, and enlisted in the Marine Corps on November 3, 1997; and

              WHEREAS, he attained the rank of staff sergeant before receiving a commission as a second lieutenant; and

              WHEREAS,     First Lieutenant Mann graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2005 with a degree in finance; and

  WHEREAS, First Lieutenant Mann joined the officer ranks on May 6, 2005, graduated from his Marine Corps officer’s training class with top honors, and was trained as an intelligence officer; and

  WHEREAS, he was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, II Marine Expeditionary Force, headquartered in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; and

              WHEREAS, First Lieutenant Mann’s life took new shape in the Marine Corps, where he became more athletic and outgoing, a student of Arabic, a recognized leader, and devoted to the troops in his command; and  

            WHEREAS, he served in Iraq from September 2006 to May 2007; and

              WHEREAS, First Lieutenant Mann returned to the Mideast to serve a second tour of duty and died in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, during a time of war; and

              WHEREAS, First Lieutenant Mann was a decorated member of this Nation’s armed forces, having been awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, two Good Conduct Medals, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Navy Meirtorious Unit Commendation, and two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons; and

              WHEREAS, First Lieutenant Mann was a patriotic American and a dedicated Marine as well as a loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend, whose memory lives in the hearts of his family, friends, and fellow Marines; and

  WHEREAS, First Lieutenant Mann’s love for his family and friends, his patriotism, and dedicated service to his country and his fellow Marines make it appropriate and fitting for the State of New Jersey to mourn and remember him, to mark his passing, and to honor his memory;

              NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH J. ROBERTS, JR., 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:

  The flag of the United States of America and the flag of the State of New Jersey shall be flown at half-staff at all State departments, offices, agencies, and instrumentalities during appropriate hours on Friday, July 25, 2008, in recognition and mourning for a son of New Jersey and a brave and loyal American, United States Marine Corps First Lieutenant Jason D. Mann.

 

This Order shall take effect immediately.