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 provi-
sions 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 offi-
cial 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 treat-
ment 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 conscious-
ness 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 nec-
essary resources and support without judgment: Now, 
therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
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•HRES 899 IH 
(1) officially recognizes the Suicide Awareness 
and Remembrance Flag and designates the flag as 
the Nation’s symbol to raise our continued aware-
ness of military and veteran suicide, as well as our 
commitment to recognize and resolve military and 
veteran suicide; 
(2) forever remembers the lives and honors the 
service of those military and veterans who have died 
by suicide; 
(3) commits to the raising of awareness of vet-
eran and military suicide via the SAR flag; and 
(4) commits to posting the SAR Flag above all 
Federal buildings wherever there is an American 
Flag and POW/MIA Flag, 365 days of the calendar 
year. 
Æ 
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