Gov. Chris Christie has ordered flags to fly at half-staff on all state buildings to mark the passing of a New Jersey veteran who was the oldest living recipient of the Medal of Honor who will be laid to rest today.
Nicholas Oresko, a Bayonne, N.J. native, was deployed to Europe in 1944. The Army master sergeant was badly wounded as he single-handedly took out two enemy bunkers during the Battle of the Bulge in 1945. He died Oct. 4 at a New Jersey hospital at the age of 96.
In 2011, the World War II veteran became the nation's oldest living Medal of Honor recipient.
Funeral services are being held for Oresko at The Anna Maria Ciccone Theatre on the campus of Bergen Community College in Paramus starting around noon on Thursday.
Christie signed the flag order the day before.
"Master Sgt. Oresko’s heroism, patriotism, and 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," said Christie in the order.
Flags will fly at half-staff in the Garden State until next Thursday.
When Oresko was honored in 2010 with a Bayonne school being renamed for him, he told NBC 4 New York, "I'll be gone in a few years. I'm almost 94 but my name will be there, it'll be great."
