George Lutz's son was killed in 2005 while serving downrange in Iraq. During the past seven years, while he was struggling with grieving, Lutz was also looking for a way to honor the sacrifice made by his son and many others.

"The truth is, parents always prefer that their children aren't the ones actually going overseas and risking their lives," Lutz said. "Yet that's not realistic, and sadly many of us have experienced a great loss."

The Honor and Remember flag, a symbolic design to "serve as a symbol of gratitude and visible public reminder," was created to represent all of the fallen, from every branch, every conflict and every cause - to include the growing number of suicides among the veteran population.

"Basically this started out of a search for recognition," Lutz said. "I don't think it has to be sad or somber, but it must be universal and show that we appreciate the loss of our military ... that we are thankful they are putting their lives on the line."

Recently, Honor and Remember became a member of the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC #92995), enabling it to accept donations from Servicemembers and other federal employees.

With the money collected by the non-profit organization, Lutz and his group are continuing to advertise and promote the existence of the flag in an effort to spread the word and encourage citizens not only to fly the flag, but also to add their names to a petition intended to institute a National Honor and Remember flag, which would be on mandatory display at government buildings. "This was never meant to replace either the POW-MIA flag or the American flag," Lutz explained. "Rather, it is meant to fly along with them."

So far, according to Lutz's website, legislation endorsing the flag has been written or adopted in more than 15 states.

The organization also presents families of the fallen with a special token of remembrance; in 2011, it presented more than 400 Gold Star families with personalized flags.

"The American flag is our umbrella, it represents everything," Lutz said. "The Honor and Remember flag is intended to represent the specific group that lost their lives serving, as well as the families who lost so much."

To follow the legislative process (WA's legislation is listed as HB 2208), review the petition or learn more, visit www.honorandremember.org.

"I never forget. I remember every day," he concluded. "We all should."