WHEREAS, Staff Sgt. Goodwin enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1989, served in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, and thereafter became a trainer and instructor for the Marine Corps; and

WHEREAS, Staff Sgt. Goodwin served proudly as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps' 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Division as a platoon sergeant, and was deployed to Iraq with the II Marine Expeditionary Force for Operation Iraqi Freedom; and

WHEREAS, Staff Sgt. Goodwin was moved to the 2nd Marine Regimental Training Center to serve as the chief instructor for the regiment, and was redeployed to Iraq in February 2005 in the service of his country; and

WHEREAS, Staff Sgt. Goodwin was a courageous soldier who received more than two dozen medals and commendations in the Marine Corps and a loving husband, father, son and brother; and

WHEREAS, Staff Sgt. Goodwin has made the ultimate sacrifice, giving his life in the line of duty while fighting for our country; and

WHEREAS, Staff Sgt. Goodwin'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 the State of New Jersey shall be flown at half-staff at all State departments, offices, agencies and instrumentalities during appropriate hours on Tuesday, May 17, 2005, in recognition and mourning of U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Anthony L. Goodwin.
   
   
2. This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this 16th day
of May 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: