Bi-Partisan Legislation Introduced Making "Honor and Remember Flag" New York's Official Flag to Recognize Military Members Who Made Ultimate Sacrifice

ALBANY – 05/10/24 – Senator Peter Oberacker (R/C-Schenevus) and Senator Joseph Griffo (R/C-Rome) announced today that they are co-sponsoring legislation that would make the “Honor and Remember Flag” the official flag for recognizing and honoring armed service members in New York.

At the urging of Sen. Griffo and Sen. Oberacker and in response to a request from the Chenango County Board of Supervisors, the bill (S.8929) has been introduced by Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D-Staten Island), chair of the Senate’s Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Committee.  Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara (D-Rotterdam), has introduced the legislation (A.3429) in the Assembly.

“Every man and woman who wears a United States military uniform sacrifices for our nation and our way of life - some make the ultimate sacrifice,” said Senator Oberacker.  “The 'Honor and Remember Flag' will serve as a testament to those brave patriots and help remind all of us that the freedoms we enjoy are thanks to those who have served our country. My special thanks to those in Chenango County who helped make this legislation possible, your devotion to our armed service members is to be commended.”

“I am proud to be supporting this bipartisan legislation and thank the Chenango County Board of Supervisors for bringing this initiative to my attention,” said Senator Griffo. “The 'Honor and Remember Flag' will provide us with an additional way to recognize the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our nation. We will always remember those who never came home and are forever grateful to all those who served.”

“I'm proud to work with my Senate and Assembly colleagues on introducing legislation that would officially designate the 'Honor and Remember Flag' as the official state flag for recognizing our armed service members,” said Senator Scarcella-Spanton. “This flag stands as a reminder to those who served this country and paid the ultimate sacrifice. This legislation also acknowledges the families who lost loved ones and keep their memory alive.”

The “Honor and Remember Flag” was conceived by George Lutz, the father of George Anthony Lutz II, who was killed by a sniper's bullet while he was on patrol in Iraq on December 29, 2005.  Mr. Lutz searched for a symbol that acknowledges the service men and women who died while in service. However, he could not find one and decided to create a flag that would be universally recognizable. Since then, the flag has been adopted by multiple states as the official flag that recognizes military members who have given their lives in the line of duty.

More information about the "Honor and Remember Flag" can be found here.

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