MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune was recently host to an Honor and Remember ceremony in front of Building 1. The Honor and Remember organization has been traveling throughout the United States promoting their organization as well as recognizing service members for their sacrifice.
Gunnery Sgt. Darrell Boatman was assigned to 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, died while on his second deployment to Iraq.
His mother, Joyce was given the Honor and Remember flag for her son’s service to his country.
“This is really touching to know that he is not forgotten,” said Boatman. “He would be very proud to know that we’re all here for him.”
The Honor and Remember flag is a unique flag. The red field represents the blood spilled by service members throughout history. The blue star represents a family member in a military conflict.
“The white border surrounding the gold star recognizes the purity of sacrifice,” said George Lutz, the founder of Honor and Remember.
“The gold star signifies the ultimate sacrifice of a warrior in active service who will not return home and reflects the value of the life that was given. The flame is an eternal reminder of the spirit that has departed this life, yet burns on in memory of all who knew and loved him.”
Lutz added the flag serves as a symbol of gratitude from the nation for all the service members who have laid down their lives since the founding of the nation.
The organization started after Lutz lost his son in December 2005. Since then, he has visited other families to tell them, that their family member’s sacrifice was not in vain and that the nation would never forget them.
Lutz has also formalized the organization, and, since then, countless cities and states have petitioned to make the flag a national symbol to be flown wherever the American flag is flown. There is currently a congressional bill to make the flag a federally adopted symbol to fly next to other flags like the prisoner of war flag.
“Our goal is to touch the lives of all the families who have lost loved ones, not just in the current war on terror, but in all past conflicts from World War II until the founding of the nation,” said Lutz.
For more information, visit www.honorandremember.org.
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