MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2017 Regular Session
To: Rules; Military Affairs
By: Representative Tullos
AN ACT TO BE KNOWN AS THE HONOR AND REMEMBER FLAG RECOGNITION ACT; TO DESIGNATE THE HONOR AND REMEMBER FLAG AS THE SYMBOL OF OUR STATE'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; TO AUTHORIZE THE HONOR AND REMEMBER FLAG TO BE DISPLAYED AT CERTAIN LOCATIONS ON SPECIFIED DAYS IN A MANNER DESIGNED TO ENSURE VISIBILITY TO THE PUBLIC; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) Short Title. This section may be cited as the "Honor and Remember Flag Recognition Act."
(2) Findings. The Legislature makes the following findings:
(a) Since the Revolutionary War, more than one million members of the United States Armed Forces have paid the ultimate price by sacrificing their lives in the line of duty;
(b) The contributions of those fallen members of the Armed Forces are deserving of national recognition; and
(c) Currently, there is no officially recognized symbol that specifically acknowledges members of the Armed Forces who have died in the line of duty.
(3) Honor and Remember Flag. (a) The Honor and Remember Flag is designated as the symbol of our state'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.
(b) The Honor and Remember Flag's red field represents the blood shed by brave men and women who sacrificed their lives for freedom, and the flag's white field and border recognizes the purity of that sacrifice. The flag's blue star is a symbol of active service in military conflict that dates back to World War I. The flag's gold star signifies the ultimate sacrifice of a warrior in active service who is not returning home and reflects the value of the life given. The folded flag element highlights this nation's final tribute to a fallen service member and a family's sacrifice. The flag's flame symbolizes the eternal spirit of the departed.
(c) The Honor and Remember Flag is 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.
(4) Display. (a) The Honor and Remember Flag may be displayed at the locations specified in subsection (5) of this section on the days specified in paragraph (b) of this subsection.
(b) The Honor and Remember Flag display days are the following:
(i) Armed Forces Day, the third Saturday in May;
(ii) Memorial Day, the last Monday in May;
(iii) Flag Day, June 14;
(iv) Fourth of July;
(v) National POW/MIA Recognition Day;
(vi) Veterans Day, November 11.
(vii) Gold Star Mother's Day, the last Sunday of September; and
(viii) Whenever there is a state military casualty.
(c) In addition to the days specified in paragraph (b) of this subsection, the Honor and Remember Flag may be displayed at all state military memorials and state veteran cemeteries on any day on which the flag of the United States is displayed.
(5) Locations for flag display. The locations for the display of the Honor and Remember Flag under subsection (4)(b) are the following:
(a) The State Capitol;
(b) The building that serves as the location of the circuit court in a county; and
(c) The building that serves as the city or town hall of each incorporated municipality.
(6) Display to be in a manner visible to the public. Display of the Honor and Remember Flag under this section shall be in a manner designed to ensure visibility to the public.
(7) Limitation. This section may not be construed or applied so as to require any employee to report to work solely for the purpose of providing for the display of the Honor and Remember Flag for fallen members of the Armed Forces.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2017.