Organization: HONOR AND REMEMBER INC
Mission: IN KEEPING WITH OUR MISSION AND PRIMARY GOALS, WE CONTINUE TO SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT THIS NATION WITH THE MESSAGE OF PERPETUALLY RECOGNIZING OUR MILITARY FALLEN HEROES AND THEIR FAMILIES. OUR OBJECTIVES CAN BE SUMMARIZED IN FOUR WORDS: ESTABLISH, EDUCATE, PRESENT AND COMFORT. IN THIS REPORT YOU WILL READ ABOUT THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN EACH OF THESE AREAS.
Activities: SUMMARY REPORT 2019 GENERAL SUMMARY THE HONOR AND REMEMBER ORGANIZATION CONTINUES TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT INFLUENCE ON THE MINDSET OF OUR NATION AND OUR WORLD. MANY OF YOU HAVE SUPPORTED US FROM OUR INCEPTION AND WATCHED OUR IMPACT GROW, WHILE OTHERS OF YOU HAVE RECENTLY COME ON BOARD. MANY OF THOSE WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH HONOR AND REMEMBER MAY NOT REALIZE THE FULL BREADTH OF WHAT WE DO WITH SO FEW RESOURCES TO LEAVE A LASTING AND PERPETUAL LEGACY OF PUBLIC REMEMBRANCE. ADDITIONALLY, HONOR AND REMEMBER ENABLES CITIZENS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO PARTICIPATE BY HONORING FAMILIES AND MAKING PRESENTATIONS BASED IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES. OUR MISSION IS UNWAVERING AND DOES NOT DEPEND ON WHAT THE LATEST RELEVANT HOT BUTTON MAY BE. OUR ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS ARE VERY CLEAR AND CONCISE AND CAN BE ARTICULATED IN FOUR SIMPLE WORDS: ESTABLISH, EDUCATE, PRESENT, COMFORT. THESE CONCEPTS FORM THE BASIS FOR THE ENTIRE VISION AND ARE CORNERSTONES OF EQUAL IMPORTANCE. CURRENTLY THERE ARE FIFTEEN ALL-VOLUNTEER HONOR AND REMEMBER STATE CHAPTERS THAT ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THE FURTHERANCE OF THE MISSION, AS WELL AS MANY VOLUNTEER "AMBASSADORS" WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE AWARENESS AND PRESENTATION PROCESS. EVERY DAY IS SPENT DILIGENTLY WORKING TO FURTHER DEVELOP A BROADER NATIONAL SCOPE IN EACH OF THE FOLLOWING CRITICAL AREAS. ESTABLISH - TWO NEW STATES, GEORGIA AND FLORIDA, HAVE OFFICIALLY ADOPTED THE HONOR AND REMEMBER FLAG AS THEIR STATE SYMBOL IN 2019, BRINGING OUR TOTAL TO 26. SEVERAL STATES WERE IN POSITION TO ADOPT, INCLUDING KENTUCKY, MICHIGAN, OHIO, RHODE ISLAND AND MASSACHUSETTS. UNFORTUNATELY, ADOPTION EFFORTS IN THOSE STATES HAVE BEEN DELAYED. MORE STATES ARE CONSIDERING LEGISLATION FOR 2020 SESSIONS AND WE WILL CONTINUE UNTIL ALL 50 ARE IN PLACE. ADDITIONALLY, MANY MORE ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES ARE DISPLAYING THE FLAG AND SUPPORTING THE MISSION. OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS STILL CONGRESSIONAL ADOPTION AND WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT THE OUR NATIONAL LEGISLATURE WILL EVENTUALLY EMBRACE THE FLAG. ADDED THIS YEAR WERE TWO CONGRESSIONAL BILLS HB3615 AND SB2371 INTRODUCED BY REP DONALD MCEACHIN AND SEN JOE MANCHIN RESPECTIVELY. IT IS OUR HOPE THAT WE MOVE CLOSER TOWARD NATIONAL ADOPTION. IN ADDITION, WE ARE CONTINUALLY PURSUING AND RECEIVING ENDORSEMENTS FROM INDIVIDUAL MUNICIPALITIES, PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS, ASSOCIATIONS AND CORPORATIONS, PROMOTING THE FLAG'S IDENTITY EVERYWHERE. WE ARE WORKING TO ESTABLISH THE TRADITION THAT EVERY TIME THERE IS A REPORTED MILITARY CASUALTY, HR FLAGS ARE FLOWN EVERYWHERE IN TRIBUTE. EDUCATE - WE CONTINUE OUR MISSION TO EDUCATE AMERICANS ON WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A GOLD STAR FAMILY MEMBER. MUCH ATTENTION HAS BEEN GIVEN LATELY TO THESE FAMILIES THROUGH PERIODIC POLITICAL NEWS. EDUCATION IS KEY TO BRINGING ABOUT AN UNDERSTANDING THAT WILL ULTIMATELY CHANGE MINDSETS AND BRING NEEDED RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATION FOR THE PRICE OF OUR LIBERTY. MUCH OF THE EDUCATION COMES FROM FLAG PRESENTATIONS AS WELL AS SIGNIFICANT RELATIONSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATION AND COMPANIES DEDICATED TO FLYING THE HONOR AND REMEMBER FLAG AND SHARING THE MESSAGE. RELATIONSHIPS CONTINUE TO GROW WITH NASCAR, SARGENTO, GEICO, SPARTANNASH, GOODYEAR AND MANY OTHERS. CONTINUING TO BUILD CORPORATE RELATIONSHIPS. OPPORTUNITIES TO EDUCATE OCCUR AT BOTH THE NATIONAL AND LOCAL LEVEL. ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS SUCH AS SETTING UP LITERATURE AND PRODUCT TABLES, SPEAKING AT MAJOR VENUES, DOING INTERVIEWS FOR RADIO, TELEVISION, ETC. ALL HELP TO GET THE WORD OUT. ALSO, CREATING SPECIFIC EVENTS, SUCH AS ORGANIZED RUNS, BANQUETS, CONCERTS AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES HELP TO RAISE BOTH AWARENESS AND MUCH-NEEDED FUNDS TO CONTINUE THE WORK. THIS IS A CONTINUOUS PART OF WHAT WE DO. SIGNIFICANT INITIATIVES FOR EDUCATION INCLUDE THE NASCAR CHARLOTTE MEMORIAL WEEKEND, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MONTH OF MAY AS HONOR AND REMEMBER MONTH AND SIGNAGE ON MORE THAN 2000 NATIONWIDE SPARTANNASH TRANSPORT TRUCKS. SINCE THE START OF 2019, WE HAVE ALSO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED TEN STATE RUN FOR THE FALLEN EVENTS FOLLOWING THE NATIONAL AMERICA'S RUN FOR THE FALLEN. PRESENT - WITH EDUCATION COMES AWARENESS AND WITH AWARENESS WE ARE ABLE TO REACH GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES OF THE FALLEN. ONE SIGNIFICANT MISSION OBJECTIVE IS THE PRESENTATION OF ONE PERSONALIZED HONOR AND REMEMBER FLAG TO EVERY FAMILY OF A MILITARY FALLEN HERO. THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS INTENDED TO PAY TRIBUTE TO EACH INDIVIDUAL MAN OR WOMEN WHO LOST HIS OR HER LIFE FOR AMERICA. SINCE THE WAR ON TERROR BEGAN WE HAVE SUFFERED NEARLY SEVEN THOUSAND MILITARY CASUALTIES, NOT INCLUDING HEALTH-RELATED DEATHS OR ACCIDENTS. THE HONOR AND REMEMBER ORGANIZATION HAS PRESENTED 3524 PERSONALIZED FLAGS SINCE ITS INCEPTION. CURRENTLY, WE ARE RESPONDING TO OUR GROWING REQUEST LIST BY ACCOMPLISHING AN AVERAGE OF ONE PRESENTATION PER DAY. STILL IT IS NOT ENOUGH. SOME FAMILIES WHO HAVE REQUESTED PERSONALIZED FLAGS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR MORE THAN FOUR YEARS AND WE CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO OTHERS WHO DO NOT YET KNOW WE EXIST. OUR MANDATE INCLUDES EVERY GENERATION OF HEROES AND THEIR FAMILIES. SINCE THE START OF 2019, 424 PERSONALIZED FLAGS HAVE BEEN MADE TO PRESENT, HOWEVER 324 NEW FLAG REQUESTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED, BRINGING THE CURRENT WAITING TOTAL TO ABOUT 800. NEARLY EVERY DAY AT LEAST ONE NEW REQUEST IS RECEIVED. COMFORT - PRESENTING THE PERSONALIZED HONOR AND REMEMBER FLAG IS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF A RELATIONSHIP WE SEEK TO BUILD WITH EACH RECIPIENT FAMILY. COMMUNICATING WITH THEM ON A REGULAR BASIS AND ENGAGING THEM IN THE MISSION TO RECOGNIZE OTHER WOUNDED FAMILIES PROMOTES EMOTIONAL HEALING AND BUILDS A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AMONG ALL FAMILIES WHO HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH TO AMERICA. OUR EFFORTS TO PROVIDE COMFORT HAVE INCLUDED HOSTING HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES AT ANNUAL BANQUETS, ORGANIZED RUNNING EVENTS AND PROFESSIONAL SPORTS VENUES, SUCH AS NASCAR, MLB, CONCERTS AND MORE. WE CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR OTHER VIABLE PARTNERSHIPS THAT FOSTER AN ATMOSPHERE OF HEALTHY COMMUNICATION, HEALING AND COMFORT. THIS SHORT BRIEFING HIGHLIGHTS JUST A SAMPLING OF ALL THAT IS BEING ACCOMPLISHED. WE HAVE HAD AN AMAZING 2019, OUR BEST YEAR SO FAR MAKING TREMENDOUS PROGRESS TOWARD OUR GOALS. THANKS TO THE TIRELESS EFFORTS OF OUR VERY SMALL STAFF, THE DEDICATED VOLUNTEER TEAM MEMBERS OF STATE CHAPTERS AND FAITHFUL SUPPORTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AWARENESS AND EDUCATION CONTINUE TO GROW. IN ORDER FOR THE WORK OF HONOR AND REMEMBER TO CONTINUE AND EXPAND, WE NEED MORE MANPOWER AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES. MORE STATE CHAPTERS ARE VITAL TO OUR FUTURE, AS ARE AMBASSADORS WHO ARE WILLING TO CARRY THE VISION TO THEIR COMMUNITIES. ADDITIONALLY, FLAG SPONSORS ARE IMPORTANT TO ENABLING US TO RECOGNIZE THE TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF FAMILIES YET TO BE REACHED. WE ARE EXTREMELY APPRECIATIVE TO INDIVIDUALS AND PARTNERS FOR THE SUPPORT AND BELIEF IN BUILDING THIS LEGACY FOR OUR NATION AND LEAVING THIS PERMANENT GIFT FOR ALL GOLD STAR FAMILIES. THE VISIBILITY AND IMPACT IS BECOMING MORE EVIDENT. WE CAN ONLY CONTINUE TO BE SUCCESSFUL WITH PERSISTENCE AND PERSEVERANCE. PLEASE CONSIDER HOW YOU CAN BECOME EVEN MORE ACTIVE IN THE HONOR AND REMEMBER MISSION. THIS YEAR WITH AMERICA'S RUN FOR THE FALLEN BEHIND US WE CONTINUED OUR INDIVIDUAL STATE RUNS BRINGING OUR TOTAL TO TEN. THESE RUNS WERE HELD IN VA, AZ, NY, IN, IL, GA, CO, KY, NC AND SC. WE CONTINUE TO BUILD TRIBUTE TRAILS THROUGH EACH STATE WITH THE ONGOING MISSION TO "SAY THEIR NAMES" WE CLOSED OUT OUR YEAR WITH THE TENTH ANNUAL GOLD STAR FAMILY EVENING. WITH MORE THAN 300 FAMILY MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE, THIS EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO ALL FAMILIES OF FALLEN MILITARY REGARDLESS OF GENERATION. IT IS A FIRST- CLASS EVENING WITH ENTERTAINMENT, SPEAKERS AND PRESENTATIONS AND IT IS A HIGHLIGHT FOR THE FAMILIES FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY. THIS YEAR WE PREMIERED THE AMERICA'S RUN DOCUMENTARY, SISYPHEAN, AND HAD OPEN MIC SHARING. NEXT 6-12 MONTH-PLUS FOCUS: 1.ELEVENTH ANNUAL BANQUET, VIRGINIA BEACH - DEC 6TH 2.RUN FOR THE FALLEN STATE RUNS - 14 POTENTIAL 3.EIGHTH ANNUAL STATE CHAPTERS' CONFERENCE IN JANUARY, VIRGINIA BEACH. 4.NASCAR GOLD STAR FAMILY INITIATIVE AND CHAMPIONSHIP BANQUETS 5.FUNERAL INDUSTRY INITIATIVE. SUCCESSFUL TRADE SHOW - MAGAZINE EXPOSURE. 6.STRATEGIC SALES INITIATIVE -FOCUSING ON ORGANIZATIONS WITH MULTIPLE FLAGPOLES AND INDUSTRIES SUCH AS VETERAN ORGANIZATIONS, FUNERAL HOMES AND CEMETERIES. 7.HONOR AND REMEMBER MONTH OF MAY STRATEGY 8.MEMORIAL MARATHON 9.BOEING INITIATIVE 10.MEMORIAL WEEKEND EXPANSION 11.NFL VETERANS DAY/WEEKEND INITIATIVE 12.POLICE AND FIRE COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES.
NTEE category: Human Services
Secondary category: Community Improvement & Capacity Building