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AN ACT relating to the Green Star flag. 1
WHEREAS, military service member and veterans continue to have a heightened 2
risk of death by suicide among the United States population; and 3
WHEREAS, military service members and veterans are nearly two times as likely 4
to die by suicide compared to their civilian counterparts, and over 20 military service 5
members and veterans die by suicide each day in the United States; and 6
WHEREAS, the United States has lost over 100,000 veterans to suicide since 2001, 7
and post-9/11 veterans continue to be at the greatest risk of death by suicide among the 8
veteran population; and 9
WHEREAS, suicide prevention services are vastly underutilized by our military 10
service members and veterans due to the stigma surrounding mental health, suicide, and 11
seeking treatment; and 12
WHEREAS, the Green Star flag is a symbol of the concern and commitment to 13
recognize and resolve military service member and veteran suicide, break the stigma 14
surrounding mental health and seeking treatment within the warrior culture of the military 15
to facilitate suicide prevention, and to honor the service and forever remember the lives 16
of those veterans and military service members who died by suicide, as well as to honor, 17
respect, and unite their families; and 18
WHEREAS, the Kentucky General Assembly recognizes the Green Star flag as the 19
Commonwealth's symbol to raise continued awareness of military service member and 20
veteran suicide and of the commitment to recognize and resolve military service member 21
and veteran suicide and remember the lives and honor the service of those military 22
service members and veterans who have died by suicide; 23
NOW, THEREFORE, 24
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 25
ď˘SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 2 IS CREATED TO 26
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(1) As used in this section, "Green Star flag" means a flag with a green star 1
prominently displayed in the center, with a white background and a red border. 2
(2) The Green Star flag is the Commonwealth's symbol of continued awareness of 3
military service member and veteran suicide, and the commitment to recognize 4
and resolve military service member and veteran suicide, remember the lives and 5
honor the service of those military service members and veterans who have died 6
by suicide, and honor, respect, and unite their families. 7
(3) All Green Star flags purchased by a public institution or displayed by a public 8
institution shall be manufactured in the United States. 9
(4) The Green Star flag may be displayed wherever there is a flag of the United 10
States and POW/MIA flag. 11