HONOR AND REMEMBER FLAG                                                                        S.B. 780:

                                                                                  SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL

                                                                                                         IN COMMITTEE

Senate Bill 780 (as introduced 2-11-16)

Sponsor:  Senator Tonya Schuitmaker

Committee:  Veterans, Military Affairs and Homeland Security

Date Completed:  5-17-16

CONTENT

The bill would create a new act to designate the Honor and Remember Flag created by Honor and Remember, Inc., as Michigan's "official emblem of service and sacrifice for those in the United States Armed Forces who have given their lives in the line of duty or as a result of serving and for their families".

The bill would take effect 90 days after its enactment.

BACKGROUND

The following information is from the Honor and Remember, Inc., website.

The organization's mission is, "To create, establish and promote a nationally recognized flag that would fly continuously as a visible reminder to all Americans of the lives lost in defense of our national freedoms. All Military lives lost not only in action but also in service, from our nation's inception."

The Honor and Remember Flag consists of the following:

-- A red field, which "represents the blood spilled by brave men and women in America's military throughout our history".

-- A white border beneath and surrounding a gold star, which "recognizes the purity of sacrifice".

-- A blue star surrounding the white border, which "represents active service in military conflict".

-- A gold star within the white border that "signifies the ultimate sacrifice of a warrior in active service who will not return home".

-- A folded U.S. flag below the white border signifying "the final tribute to an individual life that a family sacrificed and gave to the nation".

-- A flame, inside the gold star, which serves as "an eternal reminder of the spirit that has departed this life yet burns on in the memory of all who knew and loved the fallen hero".

                                                                            Legislative Analyst:  Patrick Affholter

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

                                                                                       Fiscal Analyst:  Joe Carrasco

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.