2013 -- H 5709

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LC01344

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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A N A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - HONOR AND REMEMBRANCE

FLAG

     Introduced By: Representatives MacBeth, Gallison, Slater, and Almeida

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2013

     Referred To: House Veterans` Affairs

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 42-4 of the General Laws entitled "State Emblems" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     42-4-19. Honor and remembrance flag. – (a) The honor and remembrance flag created

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by Honor and Remember, Inc., is hereby designated as the state's official emblem of service and

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sacrifice by the brave men and women of the United States armed forces who have given their

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lives in the line of duty and any police personnel, fire personnel, EMT's, rescue personnel, or any

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branch of law enforcement who have lost their lives in the line of duty in response to a terrorist

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activity.

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     (b) Findings. (1) Since the Revolutionary War, more than one million members of the

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United States armed forces have paid the ultimate price by sacrificing their lives in the line of

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duty.

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     (2) The contribution of those fallen members of the armed forces are deserving of

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national recognition.

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     (3) Currently, there is no officially recognized symbol that specifically acknowledges

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members of the armed forces who have died in the line of duty.

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     (c) Required display. The honor and remember flag shall be displayed at the locations

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specified in subsection (c) on the days specified. The required honor and remember flag display

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days are the following:

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     (1) Armed Forces Day, the third Saturday in May;

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     (2) Memorial Day, the last Monday in May;

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     (3) Flag Day, June 14;

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     (4) Fourth of July;

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     (5) National POW/MIA Recognition Day;

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     (6) Veterans' Day, November 11;

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     (7) Gold Star Mother's Day, the last Sunday of September; and

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     (8) Whenever there is a state military casualty.

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     In addition to the days specified in subdivision (2), the honor and remember flag should

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display at all state military memorials and state veteran cemeteries any day on which the flag of

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the United States is displayed.

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     (d) Locations for flag display. The locations for the display of the honor and remember

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flag under subsection (b) are the following:

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     (1) The state capitol building;

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     (2) The building that serves as the location of the superior court in a county;

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     (3) The building that serves as the city or town hall of each incorporated city or town; and

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     (4) Any other state locations that are deemed appropriate for that state.

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     (e) Display to be in a manner visible to the public. Display of the honor and remember

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flag pursuant to this section shall be in a manner designed to ensure visibility to the public.

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     (f) Limitation. This section may not be construed or applied so as to require any

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employee to report to work solely for the purpose of providing for the display of the honor and

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remember flag or any other flag.

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     (g) The honor and remember flag created by Honor and Remember, Inc. is designated as

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the symbol of our state's concern and commitment to honoring and remembering the lives of all

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members of the United States armed forces who have lost their lives while serving, or as a result

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of service and their families.

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     The honor and remember flag's red field represents the blood shed by brave men and

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women who sacrificed their lives for freedom and the flag's white field and border recognizes the

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purity of that sacrifice. The flag's blue star is a symbol of active service in military conflict that

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dates back to World War I. The flag's gold star signifies the ultimate sacrifice of a warrior in

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active service who is not returning home and reflects the value of the life given. The folded flag

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element highlights this nation's final tribute to a fallen service member and a family's sacrifice.

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The flag's flame symbolizes the eternal spirit of the departed.

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     The honor and remember flag is a unifying symbol recognizing this nation's solemn debt

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to the estimated one million six hundred thousand (1,600,000) fallen service members throughout

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history and the families and communities who mourn their loss.

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     (h) Time of display. The flag shall be displayed in a manner visible to the pubic. Display

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of the honor and remembrance flag pursuant to this section shall be in a manner designed to

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ensure visibility to the public.

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     It should be displayed only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary

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flagstaffs in the open. The flag may be displayed twenty-four (24) hours a day if properly

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illuminated during the hours of darkness. It should be joisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously.

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It should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement, except when an all-weather

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flag is displayed.

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     (i) Presentation. The flag shall be presented to the family at the funeral for an active

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serviceman, servicewoman, or any of the personnel referred to in subsection (a). The state of

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Rhode Island shall assume the cost for these flags.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC01344

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - HONOR AND REMEMBRANCE

FLAG

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     This act would designate the honor and remembrance flag created by Honor and

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Remember, Inc. as the state's official emblem for United States military service members and any

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rescue personnel involved in a terrorist-related response who have died in the line of duty that

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also designates the dates and places of the flag's display.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC01344

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