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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3146 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3498
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Carole A. Fiola and Hannah Kane
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to recognition of the "Honor and Remember" flag in the Commonwealth.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Carole A. Fiola6th Bristol1/12/2023Hannah Kane11th Worcester1/20/2023Bud L. Williams11th Hampden1/20/2023Kathleen R. LaNatra12th Plymouth2/1/2023Paul A. Schmid, III8th Bristol2/1/2023Vanna Howard17th Middlesex2/1/2023Mathew J. Muratore1st Plymouth2/7/2023Tricia Farley-Bouvier2nd Berkshire2/14/2023Donald R. Berthiaume, Jr.5th Worcester2/15/2023Paul McMurtry11th Norfolk2/15/2023Brian W. Murray10th Worcester2/16/2023 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3146 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3498
By Representatives Fiola of Fall River and Kane of Shrewsbury, a petition (accompanied by bill,
House, No. 3498) of Carole A. Fiola, Hannah Kane and others for legislation relative to
recognition of the "Honor and Remember" flag in the Commonwealth. Veterans and Federal
Affairs.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 2432 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act relative to recognition of the "Honor and Remember" flag in the Commonwealth.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 2 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following
2section:-
3 Section 64. (a) The Honor and Remember Flag created by Honor and Remember, Inc.
4shall be designated as the symbol of the Commonwealth’s concern and commitment to honoring
5and remembering the lives of all members of the United States Armed Forces who have lost their
6lives while serving, or as a result of service, and their families. The Honor and Remember Flag’s
7red field shall represent the blood shed by brave men and women who sacrificed their lives for
8freedom; the Flag’s white field and border shall recognize the purity of that sacrifice; the Flag’s
9blue star shall be a symbol of the active service in military conflicts that dates back to World 2 of 3
10War I; the Flag’s gold star shall signify the ultimate sacrifice of a warrior in active service who
11will not return home and shall reflect the value of the life given; the folded Flag shall highlight
12this nation’s final tribute to a fallen service member and a family’s sacrifice; and the Flag’s
13flame shall symbolize the eternal spirit of the departed. The Flag shall be a unifying symbol
14recognizing this nation’s solemn debt to the estimated 1.6 million fallen service members
15throughout history and the families and communities who mourn their loss.
16 (b) When flown on the same pole or pole formation as other flags, The Honor and
17Remember flag shall be flown beneath any American Flag, flag of the Commonwealth, or
18Prisoners of War/Missing in Action flag that may also be flown on said pole or formation. The
19Honor and Remember flag shall never be larger than the American flag flown on the same pole
20or in the same formation of poles.
21 (c) The Honor and Remember Flag should be in good condition if flown, free from rips,
22stains, or significant fading.
23 (d) The Honor and Remember Flag shall be displayed by those wishing to honor and
24remember the lives of all members of the United States Armed Forces who have lost their lives
25while serving, or as a result of service, and their families on the following days:
26 (1) Armed Forces Day, the third Saturday in May;
27 (2) Memorial Day, the last Monday in May;
28 (3) Flag Day, June 14;
29 (4) The Fourth of July;
30 (5) National POW/MIA Recognition Day; 3 of 3
31 (6) Veterans Day, November 11;
32 (7) Gold Star Mother's Day, the last Sunday of September; and
33 (8) Whenever there is a military casualty in the Commonwealth.
34 (e) Nothing in this act shall be interpreted as a mandate to purchase or display an Honor
35and Remember flag by any individual, organization, municipality, or agency.