Bill Text: NJ A4395 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designates the "Honor and Remember Flag" as an official State flag.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-12-08 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee [A4395 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-A4395-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman DAVID C. RUSSO
District 40 (Bergen, Essex and Passaic)
Assemblyman SCOTT T. RUMANA
District 40 (Bergen, Essex and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Designates the "Honor and Remember Flag" as an official State flag.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act designating the "Honor and Remember Flag" as the State's official flag for recognizing those of the United States Armed Forces who have given their lives in the line of duty, and supplementing chapter 3 of Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.
Whereas, Through the more than 200 years of our nation's history, many millions have served in the armed forces and many hundreds of thousands have died in the line of duty for the United States; and
Whereas, Nonetheless, there has never been an official symbol to remind us of these brave members of our military who have lost their lives in our defense; and
Whereas, The "Honor and Remember Flag" will serve as that symbol, affording us a means to express our gratitude to the armed service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice, along with their families, who have also endured immense loss; and
Whereas, The flag recognizes all armed service members who have died as a result of serving the United States in any war or conflict the nation has been involved in since its inception; and
Whereas, The "Honor and Remember Flag" contains several elements, consisting of a red field to represent the blood of the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives for our freedom, a blue star, which has been a symbol of active service in military conflict ever since World War I, a white border to recognize the purity of sacrifice, a gold star to symbolize those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country, a folded flag element to highlight our nation's final tribute to a fallen service member, and a flame to symbolize the eternal spirit of the departed; and
Whereas, The flag was conceived by George Lutz, the father of George Anthony Lutz II, "Tony," who was killed by a sniper's bullet while he was on patrol in Fallujah, Iraq on December 29, 2005; and
Whereas, During the emotional months that followed Tony's death, Mr. Lutz visited other families who had lost loved ones in the Iraq war, and was overcome with a sense that he had joined the ranks of a unique fellowship, and found consistently that these other families shared a desire to know that their loved one's sacrifice was not in vain and that the nation would never forget; and
Whereas, After Mr. Lutz learned that the nation did not have an officially recognized symbol to acknowledge the sacrifice of the estimated 1.6 million American service members who have given their lives, the "Honor and Remember Flag" was created; and
Whereas, To ensure that we never forget the immense sacrifices of fallen soldiers and their families, it is fitting for this State to properly symbolize its gratitude; now, therefore,
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The "Honor and Remember Flag" is designated as the State's official flag for recognizing all armed service members who have died as a result of serving the United States in any war or conflict the nation has been involved in since its inception.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill designates the "Honor and Remember Flag" as the State's official flag for recognizing those of the United States Armed Forces who have given their lives in the line of duty.
During the emotional months after his son was killed by a sniper in Iraq, George Lutz visited many families who had also lost a loved one in the Iraq War. During this time, Mr. Lutz was overcome with a sense that he had joined a unique fellowship. He also found that these other families consistently shared a desire to both know that their loved one's sacrifice was not in vain, and that the nation would never forget. After Mr. Lutz learned that the United States did not have an officially recognized symbol to acknowledge the sacrifice of the estimated 1.6 million American service members who have given their lives, the "Honor and Remember Flag" was conceived. The "Honor and Remember Flag" is an ideal symbol of the gratitude felt in this State for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
