Honor and Remember - Illinois Chapter

"America's Freedom Road is not built by one brick at a time but by the gift of one Trifold Flag at a Time. "The mission of Honor and Remember is to create, establish and promote a nationally recognized flag that will fly continuously as a visible reminder to all Americans of the lives lost in defense of our national freedoms," said George Lutz, founder and director of Honor and Remember, Inc. "The

flag honors all military lives lost from our nation's inception, not only in action but also in service." On December 29, 2005, George Anthony Lutz II (Tony) was killed by a sniper's bullet while he was on patrol in Fallujah, Iraq. His family and friends endured the shock, emotional agony and overwhelming loss that accompanied the news of Tony's death, just like the many families who have suffered the same tragedy. In the months that followed Tony's funeral, his father, George, visited other families who had lost loved ones in the Iraq war. He began to sense that he had joined the ranks of a unique fellowship. These families were only the latest additions to a group that originated with the American Revolution, when the first soldiers to shed their blood for our freedom gave their lives. George found another commonality among the families of fallen soldiers. After their grief had transitioned to numbness and finally to acceptance, many families wanted to know two things: their sacrifice was not in vain and the nation would never forget. These concerns led George on a quest to discover if there was a universally recognized symbol that specifically acknowledges the American service men and women who never made it home. To his surprise, he found nothing. Thus the Honor and Remember Flag was conceived. Honor and Remember, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.