CLARKSVILLE, TN – State Rep. Michael Lankford, R-Palmyra, passed his first piece of legislation today as a member of the Tennessee General Assembly, which formally recognizes Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
The General Assembly voted unanimously on Tuesday to pass House Bill 1463, which honors the men and women who lost their lives in the historic attack by requiring any flag flown over the state Capitol to be lowered to half-staff each year on Dec. 7, from sunrise to sunset, in observance of the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
“The attack on Pearl Harbor marked a defining moment in our nation’s history and a profound loss of American life,” said Lankford. “This legislation is a small, but meaningful way to ensure we pause each year to remember those in our armed forces whose courage, resilience and sacrifice allow us to partake in the freedoms we enjoy today.”
Approximately 2,400 Americans, including U.S. military service members and civilians, lost their lives on Dec. 7, 1941, when Japan launched a surprise attack on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, prompting the United States’ entry into World War II. The legislation aligns with the district’s longstanding connection to the armed forces and military tradition and reflects Fort Campbell’s significant military footprint in the region.
Currently, Tennessee law does not require flags flown over the state Capitol building to be lowered on Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. House Bill 1463 only applies to flags flown over the Tennessee State Capitol and is limited to Dec. 7 during daylight hours. The bill does not impose any additional requirements on local governments.
House Bill 1463 now heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk for his signature.