State of New Jersey
Executive Order #27

Acting Governor Richard J. Codey

WHEREAS, New Jersey National Guard Sergeant William D. Blahut, Jr., was born and raised in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, and graduated from North Hunterdon High School in 1981; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Blahut enlisted in the New Jersey National Guard in March 2000; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Blahut proudly served as a member of the National Guard's Company B, 50th Main Support Battalion, based in Dover, New Jersey, and was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in the service of his country in February 2004, where he was assigned to 1452nd Transportation Company and where he received the Bronze Star; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Blahut was a courageous soldier, and a loving son and brother; and

WHEREAS, while in Iraq, Sergeant Blahut became ill and was returned to this country, where he was diagnosed with brain cancer, which ultimately took his life; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Blahut's patriotism and dedicated service to his country make him a hero and a true role model for all Americans and, therefore, it is appropriate and fitting for the State of New Jersey to mark his passing and to honor his memory;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICHARD J. CODEY, 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:

  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 Friday, March 18, 2005, in recognition and mourning of New Jersey National Guard Sergeant William D. Blahut, Jr.

  2. This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this 18th day
of March in the Year of Our Lord, Two Thousand
and Five, and of the Independence of the United
States, the Two Hundred and Twenty-Ninth.

/s/ Richard J. Codey

Acting Governor

[seal]

Attest:

/s/ Mark J. Fleming

Deputy Chief Counsel to the Governor