Amended in Assembly July 13, 2015

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 36

Introduced by Assembly Member Gray

February 27, 2015

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 36—Relative to the begin delete Honor and Remember Flag. end delete begin insert California Association of County Veterans Service Officers. end insert

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

ACR 36, as amended, Gray. begin delete The Honor and Remember Flag. end delete begin insert California Association of County Veterans Service Officers. end insert

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This measure would recognize the California Association of County Veterans Service Officers for helping veterans secure their federal and state benefits over the past 70 years.

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This measure would designate the Honor and Remember Flag as the state’s emblem of service, and encourage the display of that flag at all state military memorials, state veteran cemeteries, and certain other public displays.

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Fiscal committee:  begin delete yes end delete begin insert no end insert .

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WHEREAS, Some California counties established County
Veterans Service Officers (CVSOs) after World War I to assist
California’s veterans to obtain their hard-earned entitlement; and

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WHEREAS, San Bernardino established the first CVSO office
in California in 1926, and at least 10 other counties with large
veteran populations also established CVSO offices between World
War I and World War II; and

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WHEREAS, At the end of World War II, most California counties
recognized the need to help their returning veterans to obtain
federal benefits, and quickly established CVSO offices in their
counties; and

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WHEREAS, In 1945, with the end of World War II and the return
of thousands of veterans to California, the California Association
of County Veterans Service Officers (CACVSO) was formed; and

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WHEREAS, The CACVSO was created to assist returning
veterans in accessing their earned entitlements as authorized by
Congress, such as the GI Bill for education and the veteran home
loan program, as well as compensation and pension benefits for
wounded veterans and their families; and

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WHEREAS, The CACVSO promotes state and federal legislation
and policy supportive of veterans’ rights and issues, in harmony
with our national obligation to veterans of the United States Armed
Forces; and

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WHEREAS, The CACVSO provides a medium for the exchange
of ideas, information, training, and support to facilitate delivery
of services to nearly two million California veterans; and

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WHEREAS, The CACVSO recognizes the importance and merit
of the congressionally chartered veterans service organizations,
and is committed to fostering a mutually beneficial relationship
with them for the common good of all veterans, since it is the intent
of all these organizations that every veteran residing in California
receives the benefits and services to which they are entitled by law
and moral obligation; and

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WHEREAS, The CACVSO is an organization of professional
veterans advocates whose purpose is to mutually promote the
professionalism of all CVSOs; and

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WHEREAS, Through CVSOs, the CACVSO is committed to
California counties to provide a vital and efficient system of
services and advocacy for veterans, their dependents, and their
survivors; and

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WHEREAS, The State of California has adopted and is currently
using the CVSO model that is used in 27 other states as the primary
method of delivering services to veterans; and

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WHEREAS, In California, a CVSO plays a critical role in the
veterans advocacy system and is often the initial contact in the
community for veterans services; and

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WHEREAS, The CVSOs and the California Department of
Veterans Affairs work closely together to assist California’s
veterans in obtaining federal and state veterans benefits, with
CVSOs serving as the “boots on the ground” for the department;
and

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WHEREAS, CVSOs are primarily funded by the counties, and
receive some state funding; and

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WHEREAS, Since 1995, CVSOs have assisted veterans in
qualifying for and receiving $4.6 billion in federal benefits, which
are sent directly to veterans and ultimately spent in the local
economy; and

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WHEREAS, In the 2013-14 fiscal year, CVSOs assisted
California’s veterans in filing claims with the federal government
that resulted in payments of more than $545 million, an increase
of over 23 percent from the $445 million that the CVSOs helped
veterans claim during the previous fiscal year, which is attributable
to increased state funding, from $2.6 million in 2013 to $5.6 million
in 2014, which allowed CVSO offices to increase outreach activities
and hire additional staff to assist veterans in the claims process;
and

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WHEREAS, CVSOs are responsible for planning and
administering a countywide program, so they must be
knowledgeable about all entitlements, programs, and ancillary
services as administered by the United States Department of
Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, the California
Department of Veterans Affairs, and other federal, state, and local
agencies; and

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WHEREAS, The CACVSO has raised the professionalism of all
CVSOs through training and working to improve the federal claims
process with the California Department of Veterans Affairs, the
United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and congressionally
chartered veterans service organizations; and

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WHEREAS, The CACVSO promotes the welfare and rights of
veterans statewide through legislative advocacy, provides training
and education to CVSOs and their employees, promotes the mission
of CVSOs throughout the state, and provides members of the
CACVSO with a collaborative network of resources, information,
and ideas; now, therefore, be it

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Resolved BY THE ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA, THE SENATE THEREOF CONCURRING, That
the Legislature commends the California Association of County
Veterans Service Officers for 70 years of service to California’s
veterans and their families through the advancement of
professionalism within its ranks and the pursuit of advocacy across
all levels of government so that veterans may receive the benefits
to which they are entitled by virtue of their military service to our
country; and be it further

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Resolved, That the CACVSO has maintained and nurtured
the high professional standards of California’s CVSOs so that
these veterans advocates can fulfill the CACVSO’s slogan of
“Serving Those Who Served”; and be it further

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Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit
copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

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WHEREAS, Since the Revolutionary War, more than one
million members of the United States Armed Forces have paid the
ultimate price by sacrificing their lives in the line of duty; and

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WHEREAS, The contribution of those fallen members of the
United States Armed Forces are deserving of national recognition;
and

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WHEREAS, There is no officially recognized symbol that
specifically acknowledges members of the United States Armed
Forces who have died in the line of duty; and

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WHEREAS, House Resolution No. 1034 of the 111th Congress
designates the Honor and Remember Flag, created by Honor and
Remember, Inc., to officially recognize and honor fallen members
of the United States Armed Forces; and

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WHEREAS, The Honor and Remember Flag’s red field
represents the blood shed by brave men and women who sacrificed
their lives for freedom; and

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WHEREAS, The Honor and Remember Flag’s blue star is a
symbol of active service in military conflict that dates back to
World War I; and

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WHEREAS, The Honor and Remember Flag’s white border
recognizes the purity of sacrifice; and

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WHEREAS, The Honor and Remember Flag’s gold star signifies
the ultimate sacrifice of a warrior in active service who is not
returning home and reflects the value of the life given; and

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WHEREAS, The Honor and Remember Flag’s folded flag
element highlights this nation’s final tribute to a fallen
serviceperson and a family’s sacrifice; and

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WHEREAS, The Honor and Remember Flag’s flame symbolizes
the eternal spirit of the departed; and

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WHEREAS, It benefits the State of California to answer calls
for a unifying symbol recognizing this nation’s solemn debt to the
estimated 1.6 million fallen servicepersons throughout history and
the families and communities who mourned their loss; now,
therefore, be it

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Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature designates the Honor and
Remember Flag as the state’s emblem of service and sacrifice by
the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces who
have given their lives in the line of duty; and be it further

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Resolved, That the Legislature encourages the display of the
Honor and Remember Flag at all state military memorials and state
veteran cemeteries, as well as public displays on Armed Forces
Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Fourth of July, National POW/MIA
Recognition Day, Veterans Day, Gold Star Mother’s Day, and
whenever there is a state military casualty; and be it further

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Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

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