We Honor and Remember:

Sgt Marcos Gorra
Hometown: North Bergen, New Jersey, U.S.
Age: 22 years old.
Died: February 21, 2010 in Operation Enduring Freedom.
Unit: 2nd Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C

Birth: Feb. 7, 1988,Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.

Army Sgt Gorra was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina as a paratrooper. He died of wounds sustained while supporting combat operations.

At the age of 7, Marcos family immigrated to the United States from Cuba. His family ended up settling in North Bergen, New Jersey where he graduated in 2006 from North Bergen High School. While in high school, Marcos played football and baseball during his freshman and sophomore years but it was as a junior that he began giving serious consideration about joining the Army.

In August 2006, he fulfilled that dream. This was his first deployment to Afghanistan and was due to leave the military in approximately eight months. Marcos had a great sense of humor and love for his family. He wore his feelings on his skin – across his chest was a tattoo entitled "Follow Your Bliss" and tattoos of an American flag and eagle on his arm proclaimed his patriotism to this country.

He had dual citizenship and also had a tattoo of a Cuban flag. Marcos had made plans to become a New Jersey State Trooper when he left the military. 

Burial:
Fairview Memorial Park and Mausoleum
Fairview
Bergen County
New Jersey, USA

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WHEREAS, United States Army Sergeant Marcos Gorra, was born in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, and came to the United States when he was seven years old; and

WHEREAS, after graduating from North Bergen High School, Sergeant Gorra enlisted in the Army and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division in February 2008 and then the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Gorra served in Korea and at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he earned his paratrooper certification; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Gorra was an ambitious and courageous young man who loved his country and the military and had plans to become a New Jersey State Trooper after serving in the Army; and
 
WHEREAS, Sergeant Gorra tragically lost his life while heroically and selflessly serving his country in southern Afghanistan; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Gorra 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, Sergeant Gorra’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, CHRIS CHRISTIE, 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:

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 Friday, March 5, 2010, in recognition and mourning of a brave and loyal American hero, United States Army Sergeant Marcos Gorra.
This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this   3rd  day of March, Two Thousand and Ten, and of the Independence of the United States, the Two Hundred and Thirty-Fourth.
      
Chris Christie       Governor

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