Honor and Remember flag honors war dead(Gold Star Dad Leads effort for a new national flag)

WVEC.com ^ | Thursday, May 22, 2008 | Mike Gooding

[rottndog]

VIRGINIA BEACH -- "That pain is deep and it’s daily. You never forget,” says George Lutz, whose son was killed in Iraq.

25-year-old Army Private First Class George “Tony” Lutz II was killed by enemy sniper small arms fire on December 29, 2005.

George Lutz has started an effort to get an official flag to honor and remember America's fallen war heroes.

The Atlantic Shores Christian School graduate left behind a wife and two young children.

Through his grief, Mr. Lutz had a burning desire to help other grieving Gold Star families.

He invented the Honor and Remember flag as a national symbol of gratitude and respect. He’s using an Internet-driven petition drive to gather a million signatures. With them, he hopes to convince the Department of Defense and Congress to recognize the flag.

[rottndog]

Gold Star Dad George Lutz is leading a campaign to establish a new flag, to fly under the U.S. Flag in a similar fashion as the POW/MIA Flag.

Here is the flag:


Honor and Remeber website

Interview with Mr. Lutz

There is a petition on the website that you can sign.

[rottndog]

Petition

" Petition to Establish a National Remembrance Flag

In the more than 200 years of our nation’s history there has never been an officially recognized symbol that reminds us daily of the sacrifices made by members of our military and the lives lost in service to our country. We propose the Honor and Remember Flag as a national emblem for that purpose."

[JoeSixPack1]

In the more than 200 years of our nation’s history there has never been an officially recognized symbol that reminds us daily of the sacrifices made by members of our military and the lives lost in service to our country.

You are wrong, There is and always has been an offically recognized Symbol, THIS ONE :

[Marie2]

As sympathetic as I am for this man, his family, and his loss, I don’t want to see a bunch of different flags. Old Glory will do.

[matthew fuller]

"Gold Star Dad George Lutz is leading a campaign to establish a new flag, to fly under the U.S. Flag in a similar fashion as the POW/MIA Flag. "

The current official flag of the United States of America serves that purpose for me, especially since it is the one that honors the coffins of our dead heroes, and is the one officially presented to their widows. I respectfully see no need for any other.

[rottndog]

I share your thoughts on this. Just think the man’s story needs to be told.

[JoeSixPack1]

Its hard to turn away from the nobility of this guys mission.

But,,, I just don’t agree with his need to have his flag annointed.

Also, I dont want there to be any misunderstanding as to which one drapes MY coffin.

Semper Fi

[DoughtyOne]

The red on the United States flag stands for the blood spilled while establishing and defending our nation.

I can’t speak for all veterans, and I am not a veteran to begin with, but I would not want a flag to thank me 365 days of the year. If you start placing that much empasis on lives lost, it will sooner or later paralyze any future plans to use military force.

The Red, White, and Blue is the way we honor our military, and I never salute it or sing the national anthem without thinking of those who died for those of us who live on.

I hope that remains the flag of our dead and wounded veterans forever.

[DoughtyOne]

I think he has been moved by his loss, and I certainly sympathize with him concerning this loss. What a terrible price to pay. Thank God men (and women) like his son have the devotion to this nation, to serve. My heart goes out to the dad, and the son who lost his life.

[JoeSixPack1]

I just found this, thought I'd share :

.........Charles Thompson, Secretary of the Continental Congress, reporting to Congress on the Seal, stated: "The colors of the pales (the vertical stripes) are those used in the flag of the United States of America;
White signifies purity and innocence,
Red, hardiness & valour, and
Blue, the color of the Chief (the broad band above the stripes) signifies vigilance, perseverance & justice."

Also this from a book about the flag published in 1977 by the House of Representatives...

"The star is a symbol of the heavens and the divine goal to which man has aspired from time immemorial; the stripe is symbolic of the rays of light emanating from the sun."

http://www.usflag.org/colors.html

[Caipirabob]

I'm sorry, I think it's a terrible design. Stars and stripes should be sufficient, they died to defend it.

These are the Commie flags the new one reminds me of:

[Caipirabob]

Per my above post, this is more like a "urinal flag" than anything I'd want to see fly in my country.

What was he thinking?!?

[topher]

bump

[chatham]

There is no finer Flag in the world to remember all the struggles than the American FLAG.
This guy should study the History of the American Flag.

[Red Badger]

I thought THIS was the flag?........

[gibsosa]

Thanks so much for that link— it went out to my email list buddies.

[rottndog]

Maybe 1 out of 10 people know what that flag is for...

It’s a sad fact, but even new PGR members sometimes don’t know what that means. We have incorporated an explanation into our mission briefings prior to PGR rides.

[B-Chan]

This flag violates the five basic principles of flag design.

THE 5 BASIC PRINCIPLES OF FLAG DESIGN

1. Keep It Simple. The flag should be so simple that a child can draw it from memory

2. Use Meaningful Symbolism. The flag’s images, colors, or patterns should relate to what it symbolizes

3. Use 2–3 Basic Colors. Limit the number of colors on the flag to three, which contrast well and come from the standard color set

4. No Lettering or Seals. Never use writing of any kind or an organization’s seal

5. Be Distinctive or Be Related. Avoid duplicating other flags, but use similarities to show connections

[Petronski]

It seems to violate ALL five of those principles.

[DoughtyOne]

I am the Flag
by Ruth Apperson Rous  (excerpted)

My colors symbolize the patriotic ideals and spiritual qualities of the citizens of my country.

My red stripes proclaim the fearless courage and integrity of American men and boys and the self-sacrifice and devotion of American mothers and daughters.

My white stripes stand for liberty and equality for all.

My blue is the blue of heaven, loyalty, and faith.

http://www.usflag.org/iamtheflag.html


It seems you are correct.  The colors were meant to mean something rather different than what I had thought they were.

It's not for me to rewrite what the colors on the flag were intended to mean for our nation.  I can only tell you what the flag and those colors mean to me, and let it go at that.


Out of the original thirteen colonies, came the thirteen stripes.  Although the stars would come and perhaps some day go, the spirit of the original founding thirteen colonies were meant to remain.

The white of the flag stands for purity to me.  Whether it be men or women of high moral fiber, or leaders who remain true to our founding principles, we are dedicated to the union, and making it the best last chance of man on earth.  We are committed to each other, to conduct our dealings by treating others as we would like to be treated, to make this nation as near to heaven on earth as it can be.

While the white represents moral fiber and how that defines how we treat each other and harbor respect the nation, the blue behind the star has always meant loyalty to me.  The Founding Fathers were our male parent and the nation has been our mother.  Our fellow citizens are our family.  We are loyal to the nation and to each other, even if it and they swerve off track.  It is our solemn duty to return it to the founding principles every time people try to hijack the nation for their own ulterior motives.  Each state rests in a bed of loyalty.  Each state knows that it will be defended by the loyalty of all citizens, for if one of us falls, we all stand in jeopardy.  And so it is that despite our differences, we must and will stand as one, willing to defend this nation against all comers.

The stars represent each state in the union.  Each state is to an extent a self governing experiment, that allows others to observe and learn.  The union is strengthened by these separate but united entities.  Some refer to them as a constellation and if that is true, then no matter what pattern they make, they still exemplify the fact that when need be this constellation marches in step, to conquer whatever foes we face.  The periodic additions of new stars and the resultant configuration change on the field of blue, reveals that although we change, we stand united.  We are willing to accept others into our nation, as long as they desire to adopt our devotion to it and our founding priciples.  After sound reasoned additions, our numbers swell and we become stronger.

The red is the last part that needs to be described.  It is the part that lives and breathes for us.  There is a body of valient men and women which is ever changing as individual members come and go.  They are dedicated to paying the ultimate sacrifice if the need should come.  Our fellow citizens have shed their blood for us.  They will continue to do so.  We must keep this in mind so that we realize what a dear price was paid that we could enjoy the freedoms we do today.  If we do not fully understand this sacrifice, then we will not be fully dedicated to making sure it was not a sacrifice made in vain.

The following words remind me of our nation's birth and it's and our continuing struggle.  Nations don't survive no matter how wonderful they are unless their citizens dedicate themselves to making sure the nation is nurtured and the wholesome values that brought it into being continue to be respected.

O! say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming.
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming.
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

I sometimes think of this verse as somewhat of a prayer?  It reminds us of the heat of battle, and that out of pain came our new nation.  Today we find ourselves in pain again, and realize that we must rededicate ourselves to a new revolution.  Oh I don't mean one of guns and canons, but of self-examination, a new dedication, an effort to organize and turn this nation back to it's founding principles.

The flag ought to stand for something.  It still does, but sometimes I think we allow it to represent things that are far from what it should.  It's time to get back on track.  It's time to make sure that flag stands for the right things, and that we are not so addled that we cannot step in to get this nation back on track.

This flag stands for something, and if we are to honor it, we will too.