I 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7183 

To amend title 36, United States Code, to designate the Freedom Flag 

as an official symbol of the United States to honor and remember 

the victims and emergency responders who died on September 11, 2001, 

and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 11, 2020 

Ms. SPANBERGER (for herself, Mr. KING of New York, Mr. CLINE, Mr. 

BEYER, Mr. GRIFFITH, Mr. CONNOLLY, Mr. RIGGLEMAN, Ms. WEXTON, 

Mr. WITTMAN, Mrs. LURIA, Mr. MCEACHIN, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, Mr. 

ZELDIN, Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York, Miss RICE of New 

York, Mr. ROSE of New York, Ms. STEFANIK, Mr. SUOZZI, Mr. KATKO, 

Mr. ESPAILLAT, Mr. BRINDISI, Mr. MALINOWSKI, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. 

GOTTHEIMER, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Ms. DEAN, and Ms. NORTON) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

A BILL 

To amend title 36, United States Code, to designate the 

Freedom Flag as an official symbol of the United States 

to honor and remember the victims and emergency responders who died on September 11, 2001, and for other 

purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Nine-Eleven 

3 Victims and Emergency Responders Flag Of Remem4 brance, Gratitude, and Education for Tomorrow Act’’ or 

5 the ‘‘National NEVER FORGET Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds the following: 

8 (1) On September 11, 2001, terrorists launched 

9 an attack on the United States that resulted in the 

10 deaths of nearly 3,000 United States citizens. 

11 (2) Richard N. Melito designed a flag known as 

12 the ‘‘Freedom Flag’’ on September 20, 2001, to me13 morialize and commemorate— 

14 (A) the victims and emergency responders 

15 of such attack; 

16 (B) the events surrounding such attack; 

17 and 

18 (C) the sense of national unity and patriot19 ism that followed the attack. 

20 (3) The meaning of the Freedom Flag is illus21 trated by the colors and symbols of the flag, includ22 ing— 

23 (A) an old glory blue background that rep24 resents the people of the United States uniting 

25 together for freedom; 


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1 (B) a white star that represents all individ2 uals who have lived and died for the freedom of 

3 the people of the United States; 

4 (C) five white bars that represent the Pen5 tagon and the organized protection of the free6 dom of the United States; 

7 (D) a top old glory red stripe that rep8 resents the bloodshed of the individuals who 

9 perished at the Pentagon and the crew and pas10 sengers on American Airlines Flight 77; 

11 (E) two broad old glory red stripes that 

12 represent the twin towers of the World Trade 

13 Center in the city of New York and the blood14 shed of the individuals who died there, on 

15 American Airlines Flight 11, and on United 

16 Airlines Flight 175; 

17 (F) a bottom old glory red stripe that rep18 resents the bloodshed of the crew and pas19 sengers who perished on United Airlines Flight 

20 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania; and 

21 (G) three white stripes that represent the 

22 rescue workers, firefighters, police officers, port 

23 authority employees, and other individuals who 

24 worked tirelessly during and after the terrorist 

25 attacks on September 11, 2001. 


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1 (4) On October 25, 2001, a flag maker sewed 

2 the first Freedom Flag with the design of Mr. Melito 

3 and unveiled the flag on December 16, 2001. 

4 (5) The Virginia Historical Society adopted the 

5 Freedom Flag on November 12, 2001, for display 

6 during a memorial exhibit commemorating the Sep7 tember 11, 2001, attack on the Pentagon. 

8 (6) In May 2002, Mr. Melito established a non9 profit organization known as the ‘‘Freedom Flag 

10 Foundation’’ to facilitate the distribution of the 

11 Freedom Flag to help educate children about the 

12 terrorist attacks and to foster the establishment of 

13 a national symbol of remembrance. 

14 (7) On March 30, 2018, the Commonwealth of 

15 Virginia designated the Freedom Flag as an official 

16 emblem of Virginia. 

17 SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF FREEDOM FLAG HONORING AND 

18 REMEMBERING THOSE WHO DIED ON SEP19 TEMBER 11, 2001. 

20 (a) DESIGNATION.—Chapter 9 of title 36, United 

21 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol22 lowing: 

23 ‘‘§ 904. Designation of Freedom Flag 

24 ‘‘(a) DESIGNATION.—The flag known as the ‘Free25 dom Flag’ designed by Richard N. Melito is designated 


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1 as the symbol of the commitment of the United States to 

2 honoring and remembering the victims and emergency re3 sponders who died as a result of the terrorist attacks on 

4 September 11, 2001. 

5 ‘‘(b) REQUIRED DISPLAY.—The Freedom Flag shall 

6 be displayed each year on Patriot Day, September 11, and, 

7 thereafter, each day through the end of September at— 

8 ‘‘(1) the Capitol; 

9 ‘‘(2) the White House; 

10 ‘‘(3) each national cemetery; 

11 ‘‘(4) each major military installation, as des12 ignated by the Secretary of Defense; 

13 ‘‘(5) the building containing the official office 

14 of— 

15 ‘‘(A) the Secretary of State; 

16 ‘‘(B) the Secretary of Defense; and 

17 ‘‘(C) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; 

18 ‘‘(6) each medical center of the Department of 

19 Veterans Affairs; and 

20 ‘‘(7) each United States Postal Service post of21 fice. 

22 ‘‘(c) DISPLAY VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.—The Free23 dom Flag shall be displayed pursuant to subsection (b) 

24 in a manner designed to ensure visibility to the public.’’. 


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1 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

2 at the beginning of chapter 9 of title 36, United States 

3 Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 

4 item: 

‘‘904. Designation of Freedom Flag.’’. 

Æ 


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