IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 899 

Recognizing the Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Flag. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 30, 2023 

Mr. GARBARINO (for himself, Mr. RYAN, Mr. SELF, Mr. MORELLE, Ms. 

MALLIOTAKIS, and Ms. TENNEY) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition 

to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, for a period to be subsequently 

determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Flag. 

Whereas military and veterans continue to be at great risk 

to die by suicide amongst the United States population; 

Whereas military and veterans are nearly two times as likely 

to die by suicide compared to their civilian counterparts, 

and over 20 veterans and military die by suicide each day 

in the United States; 

Whereas the United States has lost over 100,000 veterans to 

suicide since 2001, and post 9/11 veterans continue to be 

at the greatest risk to die by suicide among the veteran 

population; 


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•HRES 899 IH 

Whereas suicide prevention services are vastly underutilized 

by our military and veterans due to the stigma of mental 

health, suicide, and seeking treatment; 

Whereas the Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Flag 

(known as the ‘‘S-A-R Flag’’), was created by United 

States Air Force Veteran Kevin W. Hertell, who lost his 

cousin to suicide in 2016, Senior Airman Robert McRae 

Dean, United States Air Force; 

Whereas Congress would establish the SAR Flag as an official symbol of our Nation’s concern and commitment to 

recognize and resolve military and veteran suicide, break 

the stigma of mental health, suicide, and seeking treatment within the warrior culture of military and veterans 

to facilitate suicide prevention, and to honor the service 

and forever remember the lives of those veterans and 

military who died by suicide, as well as to honor, respect, 

and unite their families; 

Whereas the SAR Flag also stands as a tangible symbol of 

hope to living veterans and military to show that we 

stand with them as they serve our country and transition 

back to civilian life and remind them that stigma-free 

treatment is available to facilitate suicide prevention; and 

Whereas we seek to elevate this issue in the public consciousness and raise our continued awareness, which promotes 

open dialogue and understanding about mental health 

issues among veterans and military members, breaks 

down the stigmas surrounding seeking help, and ensures 

that our veterans and military have access to the necessary resources and support without judgment: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 


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•HRES 899 IH 

1 (1) officially recognizes the Suicide Awareness 

2 and Remembrance Flag and designates the flag as 

3 the Nation’s symbol to raise our continued aware4 ness of military and veteran suicide, as well as our 

5 commitment to recognize and resolve military and 

6 veteran suicide; 

7 (2) forever remembers the lives and honors the 

8 service of those military and veterans who have died 

9 by suicide; 

10 (3) commits to the raising of awareness of vet11 eran and military suicide via the SAR flag; and 

12 (4) commits to posting the SAR Flag above all 

13 Federal buildings wherever there is an American 

14 Flag and POW/MIA Flag, 365 days of the calendar 

15 year. 

Æ 


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