HLS 17RS-3490 ORIGINAL
2017 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 196
BY REPRESENTATIVES ARMES AND MORENO
MILITARY AFFAIRS: Creates a committee to honor Gold Star Families
1 A RESOLUTION
2To establish a committee to honor Gold Star Families and to study best practices in honoring
3 families of fallen members of the United States Armed Forces and to present its
4 findings to the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs and the
5 Senate Select Committee on Veterans Affairs prior to the convening of the 2018
6 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature.
7 WHEREAS, no one has sacrificed more for our country and the freedoms that we
8hold dear than those who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces; and
9 WHEREAS, fallen soldiers are often honored, but their families are rarely recognized
10for their personal loss and sacrifice; and
11 WHEREAS, these bereaved families who give the ultimate sacrifice for our country
12and freedoms are known as "Gold Star Families"; and
13 WHEREAS, the term "Gold Star" refers to a family member who has lost a loved one
14while serving in the United States Armed Forces; and
15 WHEREAS, the origin of the term "Gold Star" dates back to World War I when
16families hung flags bearing a blue star for every immediate family member serving in the
17United States Armed Forces; the flag would change to a gold star flag after a family member
18was killed in the line of duty; and
19 WHEREAS, in 1947, congress passed a law authorizing and distributing Gold Star
20lapel pins for family members of deceased military service members; and
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HR NO. 196
1 WHEREAS, since 1936, the last Sunday in September is observed as Gold Star
2Mother's and Family's Day; and
3 WHEREAS, it should be acknowledged that, in the United States, there are Gold Star
4Families in every community, including Louisiana, that have made the ultimate sacrifice;
5and
6 WHEREAS, the precise number of Gold Star Families is unknown, but there are over
7six thousand members of the United States Armed Forces that have died in the recent
8conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan; and
9 WHEREAS, the House of Representatives of the Legislature of Louisiana
10recognizes that Gold Star Families suffer a tremendous loss; without their sacrifice, freedom
11could not and would not be preserved; and
12 WHEREAS, the House of Representatives of the Legislature of Louisiana also
13recognizes the importance of and need to honor Louisiana families who have had a loved
14one killed while serving in the United States Armed Forces; and
15 WHEREAS, thirty-four states have erected Gold Star Family Memorials for public
16display with many on state capitol grounds.
17 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
18Legislature of Louisiana does hereby create a committee to honor Gold Star Families and
19to study and determine the best practices for honoring Gold Star Families and families of
20fallen United States Armed Forces service members without the use of public funding.
21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall be known as the Gold Star
22Families Honoring Committee and shall be composed as follows:
23 (1)The chair of the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs.
24 (2)The chair of the Senate Select Committee on Veterans Affairs.
25 (3)The secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs or his designee.
26 (4)The adjutant general for Louisiana or his designee.
27 (5)A member of the Louisiana Military Advisory Council.
28 (6)A member of the Military Hall of Fame and Museum.
29 (7)A member of the Louisiana Military Family Assistance Board.
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HR NO. 196
1 (8)The executive director of the National World War II Museum or his
2 designee.
3 (9)A Gold Star family member appointed by the governor.
4 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that staff support for the committee shall be provided
5from existing personnel within the Department of Veterans Affairs.
6 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall prepare and submit a final
7report that contains its best practices and policy recommendations of the committee to the
8House Special Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs and the Senate Select Committee
9on Veterans Affairs prior to the convening of the 2018 Regular Session of the Legislature
10of Louisiana.
11 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
12to the appointing entities named in this Resolution.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 196 Original 2017 Regular Session Armes
Establishes the Gold Star Families Honoring Committee to study best practices in honoring
families of fallen members of the U.S. Armed Forces without using public funding and to
present its findings to the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs and
Senate Select Committee on Veterans Affairs prior to the 2018 R.S.
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