AN ACT relating to the Green Star flag.

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AN ACT relating to the Green Star flag. 1
WHEREAS, military service member and veterans continue to have a heightened 2
risk of death by suicide among the United States population; and 3
WHEREAS, military service members and veterans are nearly two times as likely 4
to die by suicide compared to their civilian counterparts, and over 20 military service 5
members and veterans die by suicide each day in the United States; and 6
WHEREAS, the United States has lost over 100,000 veterans to suicide since 2001, 7
and post-9/11 veterans continue to be at the greatest risk of death by suicide among the 8
veteran population; and 9
WHEREAS, suicide prevention services are vastly underutilized by our military 10
service members and veterans due to the stigma surrounding mental health, suicide, and 11
seeking treatment; and 12
WHEREAS, the Green Star flag is a symbol of the concern and commitment to 13
recognize and resolve military service member and vetera n suicide, break the stigma 14
surrounding mental health and seeking treatment within the warrior culture of the military 15
to facilitate suicide prevention, and to honor the service and forever remember the lives 16
of those veterans and military service members who died by suicide, as well as to honor, 17
respect, and unite their families; and 18
WHEREAS, the Kentucky General Assembly recognizes the Green Star flag as the 19
Commonwealth's symbol of continued awareness of military service member and veteran 20
suicide, the c ommitment to recognize and resolve military service member and veteran 21
suicide, remember the lives and honor the service of those military service members and 22
veterans who have died by suicide, and honor, respect, and unite their families; 23
NOW, THEREFORE, 24
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 25
SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 2 IS CREATED TO 26
READ AS FOLLOWS: 27
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(1) As used in this section, "Green Star flag" means a flag with a green star 1
prominently displayed in the center of a white background and surrounded by a 2
red border. 3
(2) The Green Star flag is designated as the Commonwealth's symbol of continued 4
awareness of military service member and veteran suicide and the commitment to 5
recognize and resolve military service member and veteran suicide. 6
(3) All Green Star flags purchased by a public institution or displayed by a public 7
institution shall be manufactured in the United States. 8
(4) The Green Star flag may be displayed wherever there is a flag of the United 9
States, Commonwealth of Kentucky flag, or POW/MIA flag. 10