Reboletti Encourages Subscription to Illinois Flag Updates to Honor Fallen Heroes

Springfield, IL – State Representative Dennis Reboletti (R-Elmhurst) passed a resolution last week urging local governments, businesses, and other community members to subscribe to the Illinois Flag Honors e-News Summary in order to receive information when facilities have been ordered to fly flags at half-staff to honor fallen service members and first responders.

“Lowering the flag is a symbol that our heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice are not forgotten,” said Rep. Reboletti. “I encourage all Illinoisans who display the flag to elect to receive these alerts and to join in honoring our fallen Armed Forces members and first responders, whether or not they are required by law to participate.”

House Resolution 420 formally encourages State and local government entities and private state-wide associations who display the United States flag, the State flag of Illinois, or the military flag of any branch of the United States Armed Forces of the Illinois National Guard to subscribe to the Illinois Flag Honors e-News Summaries service to receive updates when it is appropriate to lower flags. The resolution also encourages these groups to include information about that service in their newsletters and publications.

The Office of the Governor's website allows any person to subscribe to the Illinois Flag Honors e-News Summaries service and to be notified whenever the Governor issues an official notice. The website can be found at http://www3.illinois.gov/PressReleases/Subscription.cfm?sid=60.

Rep. Reboletti’s resolution was unanimously approved by the Illinois House of Representatives on February 26, 2014. To date in 2014, the flag-lowering alert has been posted for Illinois Department of Transportation employee Michael Holmes and Vincent Petrella of the Illinois Tollway. Both men were killed while assisting Illinois motorists.