State Flags to Fly at Half-Staff Friday for Cpl. Ott

The sacrifice of Manchester's own Cpl. Nicholas Ott will be recognized statewide on Friday when flags at state buildings fly at half-staff as outlined in an executive order signed by the governor.

Gov. Chris Christie issued the order on Tuesday, which states that flags at all New Jersey departments, offices, agencies and instrumentalities will be lowered in honor of the 23-year-old Marine who .

Executive Order No. 72 states that Ott, a 2006 graduated of , was "a brave and loyal American hero" and that his "heroism, patriotism, and service to his country 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."

Many flags around Manchester, including those at the township's ,  since earlier this week. 

High school principal Alexander George remembered Ott as a student who always had a smile on his face. "He was just a great kid," George said."He was a kid who had a contagious smile."

A for Ott, who received numerous awards during his service in the Marines, will be held on Thursday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Saint John's Roman Catholic Church, 619 Chustnut St., in Lakehurst.

A mass will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, again at Saint John's. Ott will then be buried at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Memorial Cemetery in Arneytown, about 20 miles west of the church, at 1 p.m., according to township business administrator Elena Zsoldos.

A scholarship fund in his memory has been established by the Manchester Township Educational Foundation. More information is available online.