BILL NUMBER: S2364
SPONSOR: SCARCELLA-SPANTON
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the state law, in relation to designating the "Honor and
Remember Flag" as the official state flag for recognizing armed services
members
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The purpose of this bill is to make the "Honor and Remember Flag" the
official flag for recognizing and honoring armed service members.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. of this bill adds a new section, 92, to state law that reads:
Section 2. State flag for recognizing armed service members. The "Honor
and Remember Flag" shall be the official state flag for recognizing all
armed service members who have died because of service members who have
died because of serving the United States in any war or conflict the
nation have been involved in since its inception. The commissioner of
general services shall establish a protocol for the flying of such flag.
Section 3 is the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
In over two hundred years of its existence the United States has never
had an official symbol that solely and specifically recognizes in grati-
tude and respect the ultimate sacrifice made by members of the United
States military in service to our nation. The Honor and Remember Flag
was conceived by George Lutz, the father of George Anthony Lutz 11, who
was killed by a sniper's bullet while he was on patrol in Iraq on Decem-
ber 29, 2005. Mr. Lutz searched for a symbol that acknowledges the
service men and women who died while in service but could not find one.
He decided to create a flag that would be universally recognizable.
The flag has been adopted by multiple states as the official flag that
recognizes those of the United States Armed Forces who have given their
lives in the line of duty, and this would add New York to that growing
number.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2019-20: A8927 - referred to governmental operations
2021-22: A1771 - referred to governmental operations
2023-24: Passed in the Senate, Held in Assembly Governmental Operations.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the state
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.