August 30, 2006, Introduced by Reps. Bennett, Miller, Gonzales, Mayes, Farrah, Byrum, Anderson and Sak and referred to the Committee on Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security.
A bill to amend 1915 PA 63, entitled
"An act to provide for the furnishing of suitable flag holders and
United States flags for the graves of veterans who served in the
armed forces of the United States for the marking and designation
of the graves for memorial purposes; and to provide a penalty for
the removal or destruction of the flag holders and United States
flags when placed,"
by amending section 2a (MCL 35.832a), as added by 1988 PA 263.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 2a. (1) A privately owned cemetery, upon the request of
a family member of a veteran of the armed forces of the United
States who is buried within the cemetery or a recognized veterans
organization, shall provide a suitable United States flag not
larger than 12 inches by 18 inches, at the cemetery's expense, for
the grave of the veteran. The cemetery shall be responsible for the
cost and maintenance of the United States flag.
(2) A privately owned cemetery shall provide the United States
flags required under subsection (1) for placement during Memorial
day, the fourth of July, and Veterans day, and may, but shall not
be required to, provide the United States flags during any other
times of the year.
(3) A request to a privately owned cemetery under this section
shall include the location of the grave of the veteran for whom a
United
States flag is to be provided. The family member who or
recognized veterans organization that makes the request is
responsible for placing the United States flag on the grave of the
veteran, and may supply and use, at his or her own expense, a
suitable flag holder. The privately owned cemetery is not
responsible for placing the United States flag or flag holder on
the grave of the veteran. The privately owned cemetery may remove
the flag and flag holder if they are not removed by the family
member who
or recognized veterans
organization that made the
request.
(4) In the case of a mausoleum or other burial chamber
containing the graves of more than 1 veteran, a privately owned
cemetery need only supply 1 United States flag for placement at the
mausoleum or burial chamber to memorialize all of those veterans'
graves.