State of New Jersey
Executive Order #2

Acting Governor Richard J. Codey

WHEREAS, U.S. Army Reserve Major Charles Robert Soltes, was raised in Boonton Township and was graduated from Morris Catholic High School in 1986; and

WHEREAS, Major Soltes attended Norwich Military College in Northfield, Vermont, and, upon graduation, enrolled in the New England College of Optometry, where he met his wife Sally; and

WHEREAS, Major Soltes was a Major in the U.S. Army Reserve who proudly served as a preventive health specialist with the 426th Civil Affairs Battalion in Mosul, Iraq; and

WHEREAS, Major Soltes was a courageous soldier, and a loving husband, father, son and brother; and

WHEREAS, Major Soltes has made the ultimate sacrifice, giving his life in the line of duty while fighting for our country; and

WHEREAS, Major Soltes' 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 Wednesday, November 17, 2004, in recognition and mourning of U.S. Army Reserve Major Charles Robert Soltes.

  2. This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this 17th day
of November in the Year of Our Lord, Two Thousand
and Four, and of the Independence of the United States,
the Two Hundred and Twenty-Ninth.

/s/ Richard J. Codey

Acting Governor

[seal]

Attest:

/s/ Paul T. Fader

Chief Counsel to the Governor