Norton Leads Other Delegates in Calling for Equal Respect for Flags in Fiscal Year 2013 Defense Authorization Bill (Photo Attached)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – At a press conference this morning, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and fellow delegates Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (D-MP) and Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam) called on the conference committee for the fiscal year 2013 Defense Authorization Bill, due for a final vote this week, to include a provision from the House-passed bill that requires the armed services to display the District of Columbia flag and the flags of the territories whenever the flags of the 50 states are displayed. Norton on Friday spoke with Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI), who assured her that he supported the provision and would work for its inclusion in the final bill. D.C. veterans received a good reception Wednesday when they met with staff members of Senators Levin, John McCain (R-AZ) and John Kerry (D-MA), urging them to support the provision.

"We come this morning this time not to ask for equal rights but for equal respect," Norton said in her opening statement. "To refuse to raise the home flag of men and women willing to sacrifice their lives for their country is an intentional sign of personal disrespect to them and to their families. It is a sign of collective disrespect to all Americans in their home jurisdictions."

Norton's full opening statement from the press conference, as prepared for delivery, follows.

Opening Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)

Press Conference on Respect for D.C. Flag

House Radio and Television Gallery -- December 17, 2012

As Prepared for Delivery

We are halfway to a small slice of respect for the active duty military, the veterans, and the other Americans we represent. We appreciate Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan's amendment, and the House Defense Authorization bill, led by House Armed Services Committee Buck McKeon (R-CA) and Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA), including a provision that requires the display of the flags of the District of Columbia and the territories when the flags of the 50 states are displayed.

Never again must any soldier's welcome ceremony be ruined for him and his family when his home flag is singled out for no show of honor like the others. That was retired U.S. Army Colonel Herb Tillery's welcome home from the first Gulf War. The same disrespect would befall Colonel Tillery's son after each of his three tours in Iraq. Never again must a family be dismayed when attending a son's military graduation ceremony. That was the experience of Ms. Tomi Rucker, a D.C. resident and fire investigator, when the family attended her son's graduation from boot camp at Naval Station Great Lakes and had the occasion stripped of much of its joy when the flag of each graduate was raised but no District of Columbia flag was raised for Seaman Jonathan Rucker.

We come this morning this time not to ask for equal rights but for equal respect. To refuse to raise the home flag of men and women willing to sacrifice their lives for their country is an intentional sign of personal disrespect to them and to their families. It is a sign of collective disrespect to all Americans in their home jurisdictions.

The District of Columbia and the territories each have a somewhat different status under the American flag. But, we fight in all the wars of our country. We are a part of the American family, not illegitimate offspring, whose flags can be recognized only at the discretion of commanders, according to the official Memorandum signed by Undersecretary of Defense Erin Conaton.

The failure to raise the D.C. flag and the flags of my colleagues is nothing less than a failure to recognize our identity as American citizens. In this country, we raise the flags of foreign nations to show we respect them. As American citizens, we ask for, and we expect, no less.

Photo of Congresswoman Norton, Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (D-MP) and Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam)with the flags of the territories: https://twitpic.com/bmuk5g

Published: December 17, 2012