ENROLLED
2017 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 196
BY REPRESENTATIVES ARMES, AMEDEE, ANDERS, BACALA, BAGNERIS,
BARRAS, BERTHELOT, BILLIOT, BOUIE, BROADWATER, TERRY BROWN,
CARMODY, CARPENTER, GARY CARTER, ROBBY CARTER, STEVE
CARTER, COUSSAN, COX, CREWS, CROMER, DAVIS, EDMONDS,
EMERSON, FALCONER, FOIL, GISCLAIR, GUINN, JIMMY HARRIS, LANCE
HARRIS, HAVARD, HAZEL, HILFERTY, HILL, HOWARD, JAMES,
JEFFERSON, JENKINS, JOHNSON, JONES, NANCY LANDRY, LEGER,
LEOPOLD, LYONS, MACK, MARCELLE, MARINO, MIGUEZ, GREGORY
MILLER, MORENO, JAY MORRIS, JIM MORRIS, PEARSON, POPE, PRICE,
PYLANT, REYNOLDS, RICHARD, SCHEXNAYDER, SCHRODER,
SEABAUGH, STAGNI, THIBAUT, THOMAS, AND WHITE
A RESOLUTION
To establish a committee to honor Gold Star Families and to study best practices in honoring
families of fallen members of the United States Armed Forces and to present its
findings to the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs and the
Senate Select Committee on Veterans Affairs prior to the convening of the 2018
Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature.
WHEREAS, no one has sacrificed more for our country and the freedoms that we
hold dear than those who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces; and
WHEREAS, fallen soldiers are often honored, but their families are rarely recognized
for their personal loss and sacrifice; and
WHEREAS, these bereaved families who give the ultimate sacrifice for our country
and freedoms are known as "Gold Star Families"; and
WHEREAS, the term "Gold Star" refers to a family member who has lost a loved one
while serving in the United States Armed Forces; and
WHEREAS, the origin of the term "Gold Star" dates back to World War I when
families hung flags bearing a blue star for every immediate family member serving in the
United States Armed Forces; the flag would change to a gold star flag after a family member
was killed in the line of duty; and
Page 1 of 3 HR NO. 196 ENROLLED
WHEREAS, in 1947, congress passed a law authorizing and distributing Gold Star
lapel pins for family members of deceased military service members; and
WHEREAS, since 1936, the last Sunday in September is observed as Gold Star
Mother's and Family's Day; and
WHEREAS, it should be acknowledged that, in the United States, there are Gold Star
Families in every community, including Louisiana, that have made the ultimate sacrifice;
and
WHEREAS, the precise number of Gold Star Families is unknown, but there are over
six thousand members of the United States Armed Forces that have died in the recent
conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan; and
WHEREAS, the House of Representatives of the Legislature of Louisiana
recognizes that Gold Star Families suffer a tremendous loss; without their sacrifice, freedom
could not and would not be preserved; and
WHEREAS, the House of Representatives of the Legislature of Louisiana also
recognizes the importance of and need to honor Louisiana families who have had a loved
one killed while serving in the United States Armed Forces; and
WHEREAS, thirty-four states have erected Gold Star Family Memorials for public
display with many on state capitol grounds.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby create a committee to honor Gold Star Families and
to study and determine the best practices for honoring Gold Star Families and families of
fallen United States Armed Forces service members without the use of public funding.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall be known as the Gold Star
Families Honoring Committee and shall be composed as follows:
(1)The chair of the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs.
(2)The chair of the Senate Select Committee on Veterans Affairs.
(3)The secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs or his designee.
(4)The adjutant general for Louisiana or his designee.
(5)A member of the Louisiana Military Advisory Council.
(6)A member of the Military Hall of Fame and Museum.
(7)A member of the Louisiana Military Family Assistance Board.
Page 2 of 3 HR NO. 196 ENROLLED
(8)The executive director of the National World War II Museum or his
designee.
(9)A Gold Star family member appointed by the governor.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that staff support for the committee shall be provided
from existing personnel within the Department of Veterans Affairs.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall prepare and submit a final
report that contains its best practices and policy recommendations of the committee to the
House Special Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs and the Senate Select Committee
on Veterans Affairs prior to the convening of the 2018 Regular Session of the Legislature
of Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to the appointing entities named in this Resolution.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Page 3 of 3