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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1257 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3839
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 Bristol1/14/2025Hannah Kane11th Worcester1/14/2025Kimberly N. Ferguson1st Worcester2/24/2025Bradley H. Jones, Jr.20th Middlesex1/29/2025Brian W. Murray10th Worcester1/22/2025John C. VelisHampden and Hampshire3/10/2025Steven George Xiarhos5th Barnstable1/25/2025 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1257 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3839
By Representatives Fiola of Fall River and Kane of Shrewsbury, a petition (accompanied by bill,
House, No. 3839) 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 HOUSE, NO. 3498 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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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 Chapter 2 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
2 Section 64. (a) The Honor and Remember Flag created by Honor and Remember, Inc.
3shall be designated as the symbol of the Commonwealth’s concern and commitment to honoring
4and remembering the lives of all members of the United States Armed Forces who have lost their
5lives while serving, or as a result of service, and their families. The Honor and Remember Flag’s
6red field shall represent the blood shed by brave men and women who sacrificed their lives for
7freedom; the Flag’s white field and border shall recognize the purity of that sacrifice; the Flag’s
8blue star shall be a symbol of the active service in military conflicts that dates back to World
9War I; the Flag’s gold star shall signify the ultimate sacrifice of a warrior in active service who 2 of 3
10will not return home and shall reflect the value of the life given; the folded Flag shall highlight
11this nation’s final tribute to a fallen service member and a family’s sacrifice; and the Flag’s
12flame shall symbolize the eternal spirit of the departed. The Flag shall be a unifying symbol
13recognizing this nation’s solemn debt to the estimated 1.6 million fallen service members
14throughout history and the families and communities who mourn their loss.
15 (b) When flown on the same pole or pole formation as other flags, The Honor and
16Remember flag shall be flown beneath any American Flag, flag of the Commonwealth, or
17Prisoners of War/Missing in Action flag that may also be flown on said pole or formation. The
18Honor and Remember flag shall never be larger than the American flag flown on the same pole
19or in the same formation of poles.
20 (c) The Honor and Remember Flag should be in good condition if flown, free from rips,
21stains, or significant fading.
22 (d) The Honor and Remember Flag shall be displayed by those wishing to honor and
23remember the lives of all members of the United States Armed Forces who have lost their lives
24while serving, or as a result of service, and their families on the following days:
25 (1) Armed Forces Day, the third Saturday in May;
26 (2) Memorial Day, the last Monday in May;
27 (3) Flag Day, June 14;
28 (4) The Fourth of July;
29 (5) National POW/MIA Recognition Day; 3 of 3
30 (6) Veterans Day, November 11;
31 (7) Gold Star Mother's Day, the last Sunday of September; and
32 (8) Whenever there is a military casualty in the Commonwealth.
33 (e) Nothing in this act shall be interpreted as a mandate to purchase or display an Honor
34and Remember flag by any individual, organization, municipality, or agency.