HF 68

as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 01/14/2013 02:36pm

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:
new text end

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;
new text end

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 created by Honor and
Remember, Inc., 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.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. 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;
new text end

new text begin (5) the third Friday of September, National POW/MIA Recognition Day;
new text end

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:
new text end

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 Supreme Court Building and each Minnesota District
Court House, as well as any official state of Minnesota veterans memorial, Minnesota
veterans home, or Minnesota veterans cemetery;
new text end

new text begin (2) to the extent authorized by federal law and regulation, any United States veterans
cemetery, veterans memorial, post office, or other federal building, as well as any United
States Department of Veterans Affairs medical center, veterans service center, and veterans
community-based outreach center; and
new text end

new text begin (3) any appropriate local government building or facility, as determined by the
governing body of that local government.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. 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. 5. 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. 6. new text end

new text begin Flag donation. new text end

new text begin 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