EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 22
WHEREAS, First Lady Barbara Bush was born Barbara Pierce on
June 8, 1925 to Pauline and Marvin Pierce in New York, New York; and
WHEREAS, when Barbara was 16 and on Christmas vacation, she met
George H.W. Bush, who at the time was serving in the U.S. Navy, and
they were married almost four years later in 1945; and
WHEREAS, over the next thirteen years, George and Barbara Bush
had six children; and
WHEREAS, Barbara Bush played a crucial role in her husband’s
political career as he was elected to Congress in 1966 and
subsequently held numerous high offices, including U.S. Ambassador
to the United Nations, U.S. Ambassador to China, Director of Central
Intelligence, Vice President of the United States from 1981 to 1989,
and President of the United States from 1989 to 1993; and
WHEREAS, Barbara Bush served as First Lady of the United States
from 1989 to 1993; and
WHEREAS, in 1989, Barbara Bush established the Barbara Bush
Foundation for Family Literacy and championed the cause of eliminating
illiteracy; and
WHEREAS, Barbara Bush provided guidance and support to her
first-born child, George W. Bush, who followed in his father’s
footsteps and was elected President of the United States in 2000; and
WHEREAS, Barbara Bush remained passionate about literacy
throughout her life and millions of parents and children across the
country have benefited from the Barbara Bush Foundation’s literacy
programs; and
WHEREAS, Barbara Bush also volunteered for numerous charitable
causes, including the United Negro College Fund, which funds
scholarships for a number of historically Black colleges and
universities; and
2
WHEREAS, Barbara Bush was a devoted mother, grandmother, great-
grandmother, wife, and distinguished First Lady; and
WHEREAS, it is with deep sorrow that we mourn the loss of Barbara
Bush, and we extend our sincerest sympathies to her family, friends,
and many admirers; and
WHEREAS, it is incumbent on us to honor First Lady Barbara Bush
and to mark the passing of this inspiring woman, whose legacy will
continue to be felt for many generations;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, PHILIP D. MURPHY, 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
Thursday, April 19, 2018, in recognition and mourning of the passing
of First Lady Barbara Bush.
2. This Order shall take effect immediately.
GIVEN, under my hand and seal this
18
th
day of April,
[seal] Two Thousand and Eighteen, and
of the Independence of the
United States, the Two Hundred
and Forty-Second.
/s/ Philip D. Murphy
Governor
Attest:
/s/ Matthew J. Platkin
Chief Counsel to the Governor