HARTFORD—State Rep. John Rigby today hailed the passage of a bill that would prohibit towns, cemetery associations, or ecclesiastical societies that care for cemeteries from restricting the placement of flags on veterans’ graves from the Saturday before Memorial Day until the Monday after July 4 in each year.
Colebrook resident Rigby said An Act Concerning the Placement of United States Flags on the Grave of Veterans, HB-5138, was approved by the state’s House of Representatives. The bill now heads to the State Senate and then to Governor M. Jodi Rell for her possible signature.
“I’m pleased we reached an agreement with cemetery managers on proposed language for this piece of legislation,” Rigby said. “They had legitimate concerns about maintenance of grave sites and this bill addresses their worries by limiting the timeframe for flag displays.”
The proposed bill had called for the ability to place flags seven days before Memorial Day. But the compromise born from consultation with cemetery managers allows flags to be placed on the Saturday before, which was agreed to because it would not place an additional strain on maintenance staff.
“Memorial Day honors our men and women who died while in military service to their country,” Rigby said. A flag placed at the grave is a solemn way to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.”
“This proposal is the least the legislature can do to honor fallen soldiers for their bravery,” he said.
