Photo by Mr. T in DC

D.C. and U.S. territories are closer to being afforded an honor that they’ve long been denied: having their flags flown at military ceremonies.

D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton announced yesterday that the House has approved language that would mandate that the flags of D.C. and the territories be flown alongside the flags of the 50 states during military ceremonies, ranging from academy graduations to welcome-home celebrations. The language was included in the National Defense Authorization Act, which is expected to be approved by the Senate on Friday.

“The D.C. flag provision may seem trivial in the context of a $640 billion defense policy bill,” said Norton in a press release, “but people who live in the nation’s capital, especially our service members and veterans who put their lives on the line to defend this country, are entitled to dignity and respect.”

“D.C. residents have fought for this country in every war since the war that created the nation without a vote in the body that sends them to war. We honor foreign visitors by displaying their flags. Surely, honoring the D.C. flag is the least amount of recognition this country owes our D.C. service members and veterans,” she said.