Flag Honoring Fallen Soldiers Gets Committee's OK

The Wyckoff Township Committee Tuesday approved a resolution allowing a new flag to be flown honoring fallen military personnel.

The Blue Star Moms presented the flag to the governing body at the Feb. 5 public meeting where the committee passed a resolution by a vote of 4-1.

“There has never been an officially recognized symbol that reminds us daily of the sacrifices made by members of our military who lost their lives in service to our country,” said Wyckoff Mayor Rudy Boonstra.

The flag recognizes all individuals who died in the U.S. military, from the founding of the nation to today.

“Remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice and their families,” said local Blue Star Moms chapter President Marjorie Sietsma.

While the resolution passed by a majority vote, Committeeman Haakon Jepsen did not support the resolution.

“I applaud the work of the Blue Star Moms’s organization, which supports our veteran community, however, I believe our American flag deserves preeminence," Jepsen said.

"Adding other flags has the potential to detract from the universal impact of Old Glory, which itself has long signified honor and remembrance,” he added.

The resolution was the culmination of a campaign by the Honor and Remember organization. Local state chapters seek to establish and promote awareness about the flag and to have the flag flown beside national flags everywhere.

According to township officials the flag will be displayed in an upstairs meeting room in town hall.

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