Senator Alvarado-Gil with Gold Star Mother Robyn Ornsby
Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil presented a Killed in Action (KIA) Flag Proclamation at the Veterans Affiliated Council’s Veterans Day event on the West Steps of the California State Capitol on Veterans Day. The proclamation recognizes Senate Resolution 121, which she introduced and the Senate adopted unanimously in August.
The resolution honors the Killed in Action flag as an emblem of sacrifice, remembrance, and respect for members of the United States Armed Forces who were killed in combat. It encourages the voluntary display of the flag at the State Capitol, public buildings, veterans’ memorials, schools, civic institutions, and private residences throughout California on Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, and other occasions of remembrance.
Created in California in 1993 through a grassroots effort led by combat veterans and motorcycle riders, the Killed in Action flag was designed to provide a dedicated symbol for those confirmed killed in action. While the POW/MIA flag honors prisoners of war and the missing, the KIA flag, featuring a silhouette of a service member bringing a fallen comrade home, along with the words “The Brave and the Free” and “America Remembers,” ensures that those who gave their lives in combat and the Gold Star families they left behind are not forgotten.
A Killed in Action flag belonging to Gold Star Mother Robyn Ornsby was flown over the California State Capitol on Veterans Day. Ornsby has championed recognition of America’s fallen for nearly 20 years following the death of her son, Army Private First Class Jay-D Ornsby-Adkins, who was killed in action by an improvised explosive device in Iraq on April 28, 2007. Born in Australia, Jay-D moved with his mother to Ione, California, at age five. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and completed his training on his 21st birthday.
In her remarks, Senator Alvarado-Gil emphasized the profound cost of freedom and California’s longstanding tradition of honoring veterans, active-duty service members, and Gold Star families. She noted that authoring the resolution and presenting the proclamation reflected the Senate’s commitment to remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
“This resolution is simple but important. It is our opportunity to say, clearly and publicly, that California remembers,” Senator Alvarado-Gil said. “It is our chance to honor the thousands of Californians and hundreds of thousands of Americans who gave their last full measure of devotion, and to encourage communities across our state to display the Killed in Action flag with pride and gratitude.”
The Veterans Affiliated Council has organized the annual Veterans Day observance at the Capitol for many years, bringing together service members, veterans, Gold Star families, and the public to honor those who have served.
To learn more about the Veteran’s Affiliated Council visit:
To learn more about the KIA Honor Flag Organization visit: