WHEREAS, United States Army Captain Maria I. Ortiz was born in Camden, New Jersey, where she lived for the first five years of her life; and

WHEREAS, Captain Ortiz’s mother and twin sister currently reside in Pennsauken, New Jersey; and

WHEREAS, Captain Ortiz graduated from the University of Puerto Rico, Maýaguez, in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science degree, received a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from the University of Puerto Rico in 1999, and subsequently earned a  masters degree from the National Graduate School in 2004; and

WHEREAS, Captain Ortiz enlisted in the United States Army in 1991 and served for eight years in the enlisted corps, before obtaining her nursing degree in 1999, and joining the officer corps; and

WHEREAS, Captain Ortiz has served on behalf of her country in Honduras, South Korea, and at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, DC; and

WHEREAS, Captain Ortiz was the chief nurse of general medicine at the Kirk United States Army Health Clinic at Aberdeen Proving Ground Maryland, where she distinguished herself with her dedication and commitment to the highest standards of medical care; and

WHEREAS, Captain Ortiz was an expert military nurse, who volunteered for service in Iraq, with the 28^th Combat Support Hospital, 3^rd Medical Command, in order to treat wounded soldiers and civilians in a combat theater; and

WHEREAS, Captain Ortiz died as a result of wounds suffered while caring for others in the service of her country in Baghdad, Iraq; and

WHEREAS, Captain Ortiz has received some of our nation’s highest combat decorations, including the Bronze Star; and

WHEREAS, Captain Ortiz was the exemplification of a committed and professional United States Army nurse and was a loving daughter, fiancé, and sister, whose memory lives in the hearts of her family, and her fellow soldiers and medical professionals; and

WHEREAS, Captain Ortiz’s patriotism and dedicated service to her country and her fellow soldiers make it appropriate and fitting for the State of New Jersey to remember her and her family, to mark her passing, and to honor her 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, instrumentalities in New Jersey during appropriate hours on Monday, August 6, 2007, in recognition and mourning of an American hero, United States Army Captain Maria I. Ortiz.
   
   
2. This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this 27th day
of July, Two Thousand and Seven, and of
the Independence of the United States, the
Two Hundred and Thirty-First.

/s/ Jon S. Corzine

Governor

[seal]