WHEREAS, U.S. Army Private First Class Stephen C. Benish, was born in Rahway and raised in Linden and Clark Township and was graduated from Arthur L. Johnson High School and the Union County Vocational-Technical High School in 2002; and

WHEREAS, PFC Benish enlisted in the U.S. Army shortly after graduation, with the eventual hope of fulfilling his life-long ambition to become a firefighter; and

WHEREAS, PFC Benish served proudly as a member of the U.S. Army's First Battalion 503rd Infantry Regiment, Second Brigade Combat Team, Second Infantry Division and was deployed to Iraq in the service of his country in August 2004; and

WHEREAS, PFC Benish was a courageous soldier, and a loving son and brother; and

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

WHEREAS, PFC Benish'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 Monday, December 6, 2004, in recognition and mourning of U.S. Army Private First Class Stephen C. Benish.

2. This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this 6th day
of December 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