HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3592 FILED ON: 1/18/2019
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2797
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
John C. Velis
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to recognition of the "Honor and Remember" flag in the Commonwealth.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
John C. Velis | 4th Hampden | 1/16/2019 |
Brian M. Ashe | 2nd Hampden | 1/22/2019 |
Bruce J. Ayers | 1st Norfolk | 2/1/2019 |
John Barrett, III | 1st Berkshire | 2/1/2019 |
Donald R. Berthiaume, Jr. | 5th Worcester | 1/31/2019 |
Daniel Cahill | 10th Essex | 1/23/2019 |
Daniel R. Carey | 2nd Hampshire | 1/31/2019 |
William L. Crocker, Jr. | 2nd Barnstable | 1/29/2019 |
Josh S. Cutler | 6th Plymouth | 1/27/2019 |
Angelo L. D'Emilia | 8th Plymouth | 2/1/2019 |
David F. DeCoste | 5th Plymouth | 1/24/2019 |
Shawn Dooley | 9th Norfolk | 1/22/2019 |
Carolyn C. Dykema | 8th Middlesex | 1/23/2019 |
Colleen M. Garry | 36th Middlesex | 1/30/2019 |
Stephan Hay | 3rd Worcester | 1/22/2019 |
Steven S. Howitt | 4th Bristol | 1/31/2019 |
Donald F. Humason, Jr. | Second Hampden and Hampshire | 1/30/2019 |
Randy Hunt | 5th Barnstable | 1/22/2019 |
Hannah Kane | 11th Worcester | 1/30/2019 |
Patrick Joseph Kearney | 4th Plymouth | 2/1/2019 |
Kathleen R. LaNatra | 12th Plymouth | 1/31/2019 |
David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf | 17th Worcester | 2/1/2019 |
Joseph W. McGonagle, Jr. | 28th Middlesex | 1/26/2019 |
Joseph D. McKenna | 18th Worcester | 1/29/2019 |
Paul McMurtry | 11th Norfolk | 1/30/2019 |
Mathew J. Muratore | 1st Plymouth | 1/29/2019 |
Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr. | 12th Hampden | 1/23/2019 |
David Allen Robertson | 19th Middlesex | 1/29/2019 |
Todd M. Smola | 1st Hampden | 1/30/2019 |
Michael J. Soter | 8th Worcester | 1/30/2019 |
Bruce E. Tarr | First Essex and Middlesex | 1/30/2019 |
José F. Tosado | 9th Hampden | 1/23/2019 |
Steven Ultrino | 33rd Middlesex | 1/29/2019 |
Aaron Vega | 5th Hampden | 1/29/2019 |
Joseph F. Wagner | 8th Hampden | 1/31/2019 |
Bud L. Williams | 11th Hampden | 1/23/2019 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3592 FILED ON: 1/18/2019
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2797
By Mr. Velis of Westfield, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2797) of John C. Velis and others that the Honor and Remember Flag be designated as the symbol of the Commonwealth’s concern and commitment to honoring and remembering the lives of all members of the United States Armed Forces who lost their lives while serving. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)
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An Act relative to recognition of the "Honor and Remember" flag in the Commonwealth.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 2 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
Section 64. (a) The Honor and Remember Flag created by Honor and Remember, Inc. shall be designated as the symbol of the Commonwealth’s concern and commitment to honoring and remembering the lives of all members of the United States Armed Forces who have lost their lives while serving, or as a result of service, and their families. The Honor and Remember Flag’s red field shall represent the blood shed by brave men and women who sacrificed their lives for freedom; the Flag’s white field and border shall recognize the purity of that sacrifice; the Flag’s blue star shall be a symbol of the active service in military conflicts that dates back to World War I; the Flag’s gold star shall signify the ultimate sacrifice of a warrior in active service who will not return home and shall reflect the value of the life given; the folded Flag shall highlight this nation’s final tribute to a fallen service member and a family’s sacrifice; and the Flag’s flame shall symbolize the eternal spirit of the departed. The Flag shall be a unifying symbol recognizing this nation’s solemn debt to the estimated 1.6 million fallen service members throughout history and the families and communities who mourn their loss.
(b) When flown on the same pole or pole formation as other flags, The Honor and Remember flag shall be flown beneath any American Flag, flag of the Commonwealth, or Prisoners of War/Missing in Action flag that may also be flown on said pole or formation. The Honor and Remember flag shall never be larger than the American flag flown on the same pole or in the same formation of poles.
(c) The Honor and Remember Flag should be in good condition if flown, free from rips, stains, or significant fading.
(d) The Honor and Remember Flag shall be displayed by those wishing to honor and remember the lives of all members of the United States Armed Forces who have lost their lives while serving, or as a result of service, and their families on the following days:
(1) Armed Forces Day, the third Saturday in May;
(2) Memorial Day, the last Monday in May;
(3) Flag Day, June 14;
(4) The Fourth of July;
(5) National POW/MIA Recognition Day;
(6) Veterans Day, November 11;
(7) Gold Star Mother's Day, the last Sunday of September; and
(8) Whenever there is a military casualty in the Commonwealth.
(e) Nothing in this act shall be interpreted as a mandate to purchase or display an Honor and Remember flag by any individual, organization, municipality, or agency.