12,000 Flags for 12,000 Patriots Event
All photos © Ward Morrison/HRC.
To commemorate the 14th anniversary of the discriminatory, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law, the Human Rights Campaign displayed 12,000 flags on the National Mall to recognize the 12,000 men and women discharged from the military since the enactment "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell." The law forces the military to fire any service member who is found to be gay or lesbian, prohibits talented and capable Americans from serving their country, and denies our military the personnel it needs to fill critical shortages within its ranks.
At the press conference commemorating the 14th anniversary of the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law, Rhonda Davis displays her dismissal papers from the Armed Forces as a result of coming out as a lesbian.
Volunteers place 12,000 flags on the National Mall to honor the 12,000 servicemembers who have been discharged as a result of the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law.
Eric Alva, the first American wounded in the Iraq war, speaks to the crowd at the Human Rights Campaign's commemoration of the 14th anniversary of " P < on. look Sarvis Aubrey SLDN of Director Executive and Republicans Cabin Log the Sammon Patrick Solmonese, Joe President, HRC while Tell? Don?t Ask,>
Eric Alva, the first American wounded in the Iraq war, speaks to the crowd at the Human Rights Campaign's commemoration of the 14th anniversary of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" while HRC President, Joe Solmonese, Executive Director Patrick Sammon of the Log Cabin Republicans and Executive Director of SLDN Aubrey Sarvis look on.
Major General Dennis Laich speaks to a reporter at the 14th anniversary commemoration of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law. Twenty-eight retired high-ranking military leaders have signed onto a letter calling for the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
The Human Rights Campaign and other groups displayed 12,000 flags on the National Mall Nov. 30-Dec 2 to commemorate the 14th anniversary of the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law and honor the 12,000 servicemembers discharged as a result of this law.
Purchase an American flag used in the display