On the recordJuly 13, 2023
Let me reiterate, flags mean something. We wear flags on our sleeves. We honor it prominently on parade fields. We carry it in combat. We drape it over the coffins of those who have given their lives for this Nation. Approved flags include the American flag; the flag of a State or the District of Columbia; a general officer flag; a presidentially appointed, Senate-confirmed civilian flag; a Senior Executive Service and military department-specific flag; a POW-MIA flag; the flag of another country that is an ally or a partner of the United States or for official protocol purposes; the flag of an organization in which the United States is a member; a ceremonial, command, unit, or branch flag or guidon. In the words of former Secretary of the Army Mark Esper: ``Flags are powerful symbols, particularly in the military community, for whom flags embody common mission, common histories, and the special, timeless bond of warriors.'' Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
