IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 952 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that a recipient of 

the Congressional Medal of Honor should be permitted, at all times 

on the recipient’s property, to properly display the Flag of the United 

States of America. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

DECEMBER 8, 2009 

Mr. MCKEON (for himself and Mr. CANTOR) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 

a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor should 

be permitted, at all times on the recipient’s property, 

to properly display the Flag of the United States of 

America. 

Whereas the Congressional Medal of Honor is the highest 

award for valor in action against an enemy force that a 

member of the Armed Forces may receive and recognizes 

a member’s conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above 

and beyond the call of duty; 

Whereas only 3,446 members of the Armed Forces have been 

awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor; 


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•HRES 952 IH 

Whereas there are only 92 recipients of the Congressional 

Medal of Honor who are still living; 

Whereas the Flag of the United States of America represents 

a living country and is itself considered a living thing; 

Whereas section 6(d) of title 4, United States Code, states 

that ‘‘The flag should be displayed on all days, especially 

on New Year’s Day, January 1; Inauguration Day, January 20; Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, third Monday 

in January; Lincoln’s Birthday, February 12; Washington’s Birthday, third Monday in February; Easter Sunday (variable); Mother’s Day, second Sunday in May; 

Armed Forces Day, third Saturday in May; Memorial 

Day (half-staff until noon), the last Monday in May; Flag 

Day, June 14; Fathers Day, third Sunday in June; Independence Day, July 4; National Korean War Veterans 

Armistice Day, July 27; Labor Day, first Monday in September; Constitution Day, September 17; Columbus Day, 

second Monday in October; Navy Day, October 27; Veterans Day, November 11; Thanksgiving Day, fourth 

Thursday in November; Christmas Day, December 25; 

and such other days as may be proclaimed by the President of the United States; the birthdays of States (date 

of admission); and on State holidays.’’; 

Whereas Colonel Van T. Barfoot (Army, Retired) of Richmond, Virginia, is a recipient of the Congressional Medal 

of Honor and is now 90 years old; 

Whereas Colonel Van Barfoot was ordered to remove a flagpole from his lawn after flying the Flag of the United 

States of America; and 

Whereas, on December 1, 2009, Colonel Van Barfoot was 

given notice of possible legal action against him because 


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•HRES 952 IH 

of his refusal to remove the flagpole: Now, therefore, be 

it 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that a recipient of the Congressional Medal 

3 of Honor should be permitted, at all times on the recipi4 ent’s property, to properly display the Flag of the United 

5 States of America. 

Æ 


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