Committee approves amendment to make last Sunday in September "Gold Star Mothers and Families Day" and limit flag display to veterans cemetery

The Executive Departments and Administration Committee on Oct. 26 voted to adopt amendment 1670 to House Bill 142, changing the bill’s language to designate the last Sunday in September as Gold Star Mothers and Families Day and limiting daily display of the Honor and Remember flag to the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen.

Committee members said the amendment was a compromise between supporters who wanted broader recognition and those concerned about making the flag a statewide symbol or requiring display at the statehouse. The committee adopted the amendment and then voted to pass the bill as amended.

The amendment removes the original bill’s language that referenced a national organization creating the Honor and Remember flag and deletes direction to display the flag at the statehouse. Representative Moffett, identified in committee remarks as the bill’s prime sponsor, reviewed the change with members and agreed it was a reasonable compromise, according to the record.

The committee moved the amendment, received a second and approved it by voice vote. The committee then voted to pass HB 142 as amended by voice vote. There was no roll-call tally in the transcript; votes were recorded by voice (“Aye”).

The committee record shows members debated the scope of the recognition — whether to make the flag a state symbol and where it should be displayed — but the final language limits the flag display to the state veterans cemetery and leaves the day designation in statute.

The bill will move forward in the legislative process with the committee’s recommendation to pass as amended.