Rochester Couple Invites Public To Special Flag Raising Event

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Rochester, MN (KROC AM News) - A Rochester couple is trying to spread the word about a special flag that was created to honor US service members who were killed in the line of duty.

And they have a special reason.

Kimberly Bruce lost her brother Travis while he was serving in Iraq.

She and Keith Schlesser are promoting what’s known as the Honor and Remember flag in Rochester and SE Minnesota. They have planned an event for Thursday evening (6:00pm)  in hopes of creating more awareness of this flag.

The flag-raising ceremony “will be in honor of Travis Bruce and all service members who have paid the ultimate sacrifice to maintain America's freedoms.”

Bruce was a Mayo High School grad who was killed in Iraq while on patrol in 2005 at the age of 22, becoming the first person from Rochester to be killed in the war.

The event planned by Kimberly Bruce and Schlesser will be held at their home at 509 22nd St NE near Churchill School in the Northern Heights neighborhood. The couple hopes “the event not only encourages greater awareness of the Honor and Remember flag, but also encourages more people to fly it along with the American flag.”

Schlesser says the Honor and Remember Flag “is still a work in progress.” He says a petition drive is underway to encourage states to adopt the flag as their state symbol of remembrance and have it flown continuously along with the Stars and Stripes.

Minnesota is one of 26 states that have officially adopted the flag.

Here is an interview with Keith from Monday's Rochester Today.

Contact keith@honorandremember.org to learn more about how you can be involved in or support the national campaign.

News update:  Rochester man finds bullet hole in home.