WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Lobosco enlisted in the United States Army in January 2004 as a Special Forces candidate and was assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina; and

WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Lobosco completed the Special Forces Qualification Course in January 2007 and earned the distinguished Green Beret; and

WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Lobosco’s military education included the Warrior Leader’s Course, Basic Non-Commissioned Officer Course, Basic Airborne Course, and Special Forces Qualification Course; and

WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Lobosco served proudly in the United States Army’s 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), as a Special Forces medical sergeant; and

WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Lobosco was deployed for the second time in support of the Global War on Terror in July 2009 as a member of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force in Afghanistan; and

WHEREAS, on August 22, 2009, Staff Sergeant Lobosco was killed in action as a result of injuries suffered when his unit was attacked while on patrol near Yakhchal, Afghanistan, in support of combat operations; and

WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Lobosco has received some of our nation’s highest military honors, including the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, non-commissioned officer professional development ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, and the Special Forces Tab; and

WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Lobosco was a dedicated soldier as well as a loving son and brother, whose memory lives in the hearts of his family, friends, and fellow soldiers; and

WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Lobosco’s patriotism and dedicated service to his country and his fellow soldiers make it appropriate and fitting for the State of New Jersey to remember him and his family, to mark his passing, and to honor his memory;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JON S. CORZINE, 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 September, 2, 2009, in recognition and mourning of a brave and loyal American hero, United States Army Staff Sergeant Andrew T. Lobosco.

2. This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this 28th day of August
Two Thousand and Nine, and of the Independence of
the United States, the Two Hundred and Thirty-Fourth.

/s/ Jon S. Corzine

Governor

[seal]

 

/s/ Kay Walcott-Henderson

First Assistant Chief Counsel