Men and women have been serving in the United States military and dying for their country for more than 200 years. They represent a unique and distinct category of individuals, along with the families that sent them, that deserve a symbol of recognition, a visual emblem of honor. Until the Honor and Remember Flag was conceived, there was no such nationally recognized symbol.

There are many reasons why it is important to establish the Honor and Remember Flag as a national symbol in this generation. The most important one is that there exits today the largest contingent of living veterans of any time in our history. These veterans comprise one of the greatest groups of least honored soldiers in our history: the Vietnam War veterans. Even though there is a memorial to Vietnam vets in Washington, D.C., these men and women deserve the same level of honor and recognition as any other. For those who lost their lives and their families, the Honor and Remember Flag serves as a way for the rest of us to express, perhaps belatedly, our gratitude for their sacrifice.

Many people do believe this to be true. However, the American flag stands for what we believe, the unity of our people and the diversity of our nation. It is symbol of what we fight for, rather than an emblem to honor those fallen. Here is how the symbolism of the American flag is generally understood:

The U. S. flag consists of thirteen horizontal stripes, seven red alternating with 6 white. The stripes represent the original 13 colonies; the stars represent the 50 states of the Union. The colors of the flag are symbolic as well: Red symbolizes hardiness and valor; White symbolizes purity and innocence; Blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice.

To put it simply, “The dead honor the flag, the flag does not honor the dead."

All those who have been killed from action, or killed in service, from the moment our nation began. If you have put on a military uniform in service to the United States, you have given authority to superiors to place you in harms way. If in the course of doing one’s duty an individual lost their life, regardless or where or how, this flag is meant to honor that individual.

We often hear the terms “killed in action” or “died of wounds.” They refer specifically to those who have died by definition in an official conflict. This flag has a broader scope, honoring all those who by draft or volunteer have put themselves in a position to defend the constitution, the flag and those freedoms which make our nation great. In other words, if someone was killed while guarding a border, standing on a ship’s deck, protecting an embassy or marching headlong into enemy fire, this flag honors them..

This flag should be important to every citizen of the United States. Never before in the history our country have we realized how vulnerable we can be to the actions of those who would destroy us. Now more than ever, our fighting men and women deserve our support and our gratitude for standing in the way of those who want to attack us. We owe them, and particularly those who died, honor and remembrance.

By flying the Honor and Remember Flag, we say to our fighting men and women and the families they came from that we as Americans will never forget their contribution to our freedom. And we are mindful that at any time, any day another could be added to those ranks

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There are four very important things you can do:

1. SIGN the Petition, If you havent already. Our goal is 1.6 million signatures, one supporter for each life lost in our nations' history. Once that is achieved our hope is that the Department of Defense will support and Congress will enact a law officially recognizing the Honor and Remember Flag as a national symbol.

2. TALK about the flag. Tell everyone in your circle, including businesses about the website www.HonorandRemember.org and encourage them visit and sign the petition. Also please consider spreading the word through newsletters, emails, blogs or by linking to our website. Additionally send the press release link to any media locally or nationally to let them know about the campaign. We would welcome the opportunity for national attention including syndicated talk shows. Another very important action is to send a letter to your congressperson telling them about the flag and the importance of national adoption.

3. FLY the Honor and Remember Flag. Make it a part of your office or family’s traditions when you fly the American flag.

4. CONTRIBUTE. There are many expenses involved in conducting this national campaign. Any support you can give will help us to fulfill our mission. If every person who signs the petition gives just $5 it will enable us to meet a very important goal of providing flags to living parents who have lost their children in military service.

Donations are applied to fulfilling the goals of the organization; DoD and congressional adoption, national acceptance and providing parents of the fallen with personalized flags. Expenses include the educational propagation of spreading the word nationally, through, email blitzes, direct mail, personal speaking and administrative responsibilities and flag donations. It a primary goal to place a personalized flag in the hands of every parent still living who has lost a child in service to the United States. Additionally, organizations involved with supporting the families of Fallen heroes will be considered for future donations.