SF 362

1st Engrossment - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 08/20/2015 02:10pm

A bill for an act
relating to veterans; designating the Honor and Remember Flag as an official
symbol of the state's commitment to military service members who have lost
their lives in service to our country; encouraging display of the flag on certain
days in certain public locations; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 197.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [197.987] HONOR AND REMEMBER FLAG.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Legislative findings. new text end

new text begin The legislature of the state of Minnesota finds
and determines that:
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new text begin (1) since the Revolutionary War, more than 1,000,000 members of the United States
armed forces have paid the ultimate price by sacrificing their lives in active military
service for the United States of America;
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new text begin (2) the contribution made by those fallen members of the armed forces is deserving
of state and national recognition; and
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new text begin (3) the Honor and Remember Flag is an appropriate symbol that acknowledges the
selfless sacrifice of those members of the United States armed forces.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Designation. new text end

new text begin The Honor and Remember Flag described in subdivision
3 is designated as the symbol of our state's concern and commitment to honoring and
remembering the lives of all members of the United States armed forces who have lost
their lives in the line of duty while serving honorably in active military service in the
United States armed forces or of a service-connected cause due to or aggravated by that
service, as determined by the United States Department of Defense or the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs. This designation is contingent on the flag being available
for purchase at a reasonable price.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Description. new text end

new text begin The Honor and Remember Flag shall conform substantially
to the following description: The Honor and Remember Flag is the same standard
proportions as the flag of the United States of America. Its design contains a red field that
occupies the top three-quarters and a white field that occupies the bottom quarter of the
flag. In the center of the red field is a five-pointed, gold star with the top point located
near the top of the red field and the two bottom points extending about one-quarter of the
way into the white field. The gold star has a white border surrounded by a blue border.
Between the two bottom points of the star is a tri-folded American flag displaying the blue
field and some stars, which is the configuration of the American flag presented to the
family of the deceased at a military memorial service. At the top of the tri-folded flag,
extending into the center of the gold star, is a stylized, three-part flame, with one blue part
and two red parts. In the white field below the tri-folded flag, the words "Honor and
Remember" are centered. The Honor and Remember Flag is protected by U. S. copyright,
registration number VA0001670661, owned by Honor and Remember, Inc.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Suggested days for flag display. new text end

new text begin (a) The chief administrator of each
governmental building or facility within this state, as defined in paragraph (b), is
encouraged to display the Honor and Remember Flag on the following days each year:
new text end

new text begin (1) Armed Forces Day, the third Saturday in May;
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new text begin (2) Flag Day, June 14;
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new text begin (3) July 2nd and July 3rd, in remembrance of the 262 soldiers of the 1st Regiment
Minnesota Volunteer Infantry who, at the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil
War, fought so gallantly and successfully to repulse two major Confederate attacks on the
main Union line, suffering over 80 percent casualties, thereby turning the battle and the
war and helping to preserve the Union itself at that pivotal moment in our nation's history;
new text end

new text begin (4) July 4th, Independence Day;
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new text begin (5) the third Friday of September, National POW/MIA Recognition Day;
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new text begin (6) November 11, Veterans Day;
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new text begin (7) July 27, Korean War Armistice Day;
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new text begin (8) March 29, Vietnam Veterans Day; and
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new text begin (9) any day on which the United States flag is displayed at a governmental building
or facility within this state.
new text end

new text begin (b) For purposes of this section, "governmental building or facility within this state"
means the following locations:
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new text begin (1) the Minnesota State Capitol, the Office of the Governor and each other Minnesota
constitutional office, the chambers of the Minnesota Senate and the Minnesota House of
Representatives, the Minnesota Judicial Center and each Minnesota District Court House,
any official state of Minnesota veterans memorial, Minnesota veterans home, Minnesota
veterans cemetery, state veterans service centers, and state veterans community-based
outreach centers; and
new text end

new text begin (2) any appropriate local government building or facility, as determined by the
governing body of that local government.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Limitation. new text end

new text begin This section may not be construed or interpreted to require
any employee to report to work solely for the purpose of providing for the display of the
Honor and Remember Flag or any other flag.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Implementation. new text end

new text begin If a governmental building or facility within this state
opts to display the Honor and Remember Flag, the chief administrator of that facility shall
prescribe procedures necessary for the display.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Flag donation. new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding sections 10A.071 and 471.895, any
named public office or public official may accept a donation of one or more Honor and
Remember Flags for the purpose of this section.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end