VIRGINIA INTRODUCES STATE SYMBOL OF REMEMBRANCE DURING DEDICATION CEREMONY

Virginia's new State Symbol honoring September 11, 2001, the Freedom Flag, was dedicated before a public gathering on the grounds of the historic Virginia State Capitol complex on Saturday, June 14, 2003, at 5:00pm. Attorney General Jerry Kilgore, representing the State leadership, dedicated and then presented this symbolic flag to the citizens of Virginia. Accepting Freedom Flag on behalf of Virginia's citizens and the families who lost loved ones on September 11 was Mrs. Laurie Laychak, whose husband David was killed at the Pentagon.

RICHMOND, Va. (PRWEB) June 20, 2003 -- Virginia's new State Symbol honoring September 11, 2001, the Freedom Flag, was dedicated before a public gathering on the grounds of the historic Virginia State Capitol complex on Saturday, June 14, 2003, at 5:00pm. Attorney General Jerry Kilgore, representing the State leadership, dedicated and then presented this symbolic flag to the citizens of Virginia. Accepting Freedom Flag on behalf of Virginia's citizens and the families who lost loved ones on September 11 was Mrs. Laurie Laychak, whose husband David was killed at the Pentagon. Additional speakers include:

·   Dr. Robert Strohm, Vice President of the Virginia Historical Museum
·   Dr. Elizabeth Taraski, Executive Director of Donor/ Community Relations, University of Richmond
·   Viola O Baskerville, Virginia State Delegate, 71st District
·   Kenneth Barker, Vice President of Dominion Virginia Power

The event also includes performances by the Williamsburg Field 'Musick' Fife and Drum Troop and the acclaimed Richmond Boys Choir. An additional Freedom Flag was presented to the Freedom Flag Foundation's first major corporate partner, Dominion Resources Services, Inc. Upon accepting the Flag, which will fly atop Dominion Power's downtown Corporate skyscraper, Vice President Ken Barker stated that" Dominion is proud to embrace the Freedom Flag...We are pleased to support the educational efforts of the Freedom Flag Foundation, and as its first corporate advocate, we urge other businesses to support and fly the Freedom Flag - so that we will never, ever forget the value of freedpm."

Freedom Flag was officially designated as the Commonwealths symbol of remembrance during the 2003 General Assembly session when the Senate and House of Delegates adopted commending resolutions expressing support for Freedom Flag and the Freedom Flag Foundation. On February 24, Gov. Mark Warner issued an executive order proclaiming Freedom Flag as Virginias official symbol of remembrance for September 11, 2001.

The day's events began at 9:00am when representatives from the Freedom Flag Foundation presented Freedom Flags to the City of Virginia Beach in an ocean front ceremony on the city's newly refurbished boardwalk. Foundation president and designer of the Freedom Flag, Richard Melito, presented the State Symbol of Remembrance to Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera Oberndorf and representatives from the VA Beach Fire, Police and Rescue Departments. In addition, a Freedom Flag was presented to the Virginia regional emergency response unit, Virginia Task Force II, which is headquartered in VA Beach. Virginia Task Force II - Urban Search and Rescue Team personnel responded to the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. Task Force II is a one of twenty-eight regional response units that mobilizes immediately in the event of a large-scale emergency. TF II is made up of emergency service personnel from different municipalities in the Tidewater Area.

Foundation representatives returned to Richmond for the afternoon ceremony.

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