For Immediate Release

Contact: Paul Lindsay

 

Washington, D.C.  – U.S. Representative Charles W. Boustany, Jr. (R-LA) and U.S. Representative Geoff Davis (R-KY) today introduced legislation that would ban the unauthorized use of a deceased soldier's name or image for commercial or political purpose.  The Military Fallen Heroes Protection Act of 2006 (H.R. 5772) comes in response to recent commercial and political use of names and images of fallen soldiers without the expressed consent from their families.

 

“America’s fallen soldiers, and the families they leave behind, deserve to know that their names and images will be protected from this shameful exploitation,” said Boustany.  “While there is no way to ever express in words the significance of their sacrifice, we have a duty to honor and protect their memories.”  

 

Boustany introduced the measure at the request of several families who have lost loved ones in Iraq, particularly the mothers of Pfc. David Burridge (U.S. Marine Corps) and Corporal Joseph Thibodeaux (U.S. Army), both of Lafayette, LA.  Pfc. Burridge and Cpl. Thibodeaux were both killed in Iraq in September of 2004. 

 

Their families were shocked and appalled to discover that the names of their sons had been printed on the back of anti-war t-shirts being sold for profit.  They subsequently called on their state and federal lawmakers to prevent this unauthorized business practice.  Similar legislation has been signed into law in Louisiana which makes the unauthorized use of the identity of a deceased soldier a crime.

 

“Recently, some politicians have sunk to a new low by choosing to use the images of our fallen soldiers for their political gain,” said Davis.  “No one who is shameless enough to dishonor the memories of these brave men and women should ever be allowed to benefit from such an act, either by commercial or political means.”

 

###