[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 120 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 120

 Urging cemeteries to maintain the flags placed on the grave sites of 
       American veterans on Memorial Day through at least May 31.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 24, 2001

   Mr. Grucci (for himself and Mr. English) submitted the following 
  resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Urging cemeteries to maintain the flags placed on the grave sites of 
       American veterans on Memorial Day through at least May 31.

Whereas Decoration Day (now Memorial Day), which became a Federal holiday in 
        1888, was established to allow Civil War veterans who were employed by 
        the Federal Government to pay their respects to those who gave their 
        lives in the conflict, without losing a day's pay;
Whereas it was the intent of Congress that Memorial Day be a time to reflect on 
        our hard earned freedom and to pay our respects to those men and women 
        who gave their lives to preserve that freedom;
Whereas, in 1968, Memorial Day was changed by law from its traditional date of 
        May 30th to the last Monday of May;
Whereas the true meaning of Memorial Day has been too often lost to 
        commercialism, leisure, and recreation;
Whereas, on Memorial Day, our Nation's flag is placed on the graves of our 
        fallen veterans to honor their bravery and supreme sacrifice;
Whereas many cemeteries remove flags from the graves of veterans immediately 
        after the observation of Memorial Day; and
Whereas there is no more fitting remembrance of veterans and their service to 
        this Nation than the flag upon their place of rest: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives --
            (1) urges all cemeteries to maintain the American flags 
        placed on the graves of veterans on Memorial Day until at least 
        May 31, the day after the original date of Decoration Day, 
        except in the case of inclement weather; and
            (2) encourages all cemeteries to create partnerships with 
        local veterans' organizations to allow veterans to respectfully 
        assist in the removal of the flags.
                                 <all>