[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 61 (Thursday, April 17, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S3154]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. SNOWE (for herself, Ms. Collins, and Mr. Isakson):
  S. 2882. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for 
the presentation of a flag of the United States to the children of 
members of the Armed Forces who die in service; to the Committee on 
Armed Services.
  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today with my colleagues Senator 
Collins and Senator Isakson to introduce legislation that would provide 
the secretaries of the military departments the authority to pay the 
necessary expenses that would accompany the presentation of a flag to 
each child of a servicemember killed in the service of the Nation.
  The presentation of a remembrance flag to the family of a deceased 
servicemember is a time-honored tradition for each of the services 
which commemorates and memorializes the service of our men and women in 
uniform who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the liberties 
and freedoms we cherish. The remembrance flag is a profound symbol of 
the enduring appreciation of a grateful Nation.
  Regrettably, however, there is an oversight in current law affecting 
which family members of a deceased servicemember may receive a flag. At 
present, the statute authorizes the secretaries of the services to 
present only two remembrance flags--one to the parents of the deceased 
servicemember and one to the person authorized to direct disposition of 
the servicemember. In many instances, the person authorized to direct 
disposition is also a primary next of kin of the servicemember. 
However, in cases where the primary next of kin are the children of the 
deceased servicemember, which can occur in extended family situations, 
authorities do not exist for the secretaries of the services to provide 
a remembrance flag to the children of deceased servicemembers.
  The legislation that my colleagues and I are introducing today will 
remedy this oversight. We believe that the children of deceased 
servicemembers should also be able to receive a remembrance flag in 
honor of the sacrifice made by their parent. Clearly, this is the right 
thing to do. I sincerely hope that my colleagues will join Senator 
Collins, Senator Isakson, and me in supporting this important 
legislation.
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