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New Book Chronicles a
Father's Sacred Journey to Honor America's Fallen Heroes
Foreword by Dennis Miller
Gold Star father George A. Lutz has written a book that is a unique tribute to his son, Tragedy to Tribute: One Father's Grief Fuels a Passionate Journey to Change the Mindset of a Nation. It is a deeply personal and powerfully patriotic book that traces his journey from heartbreaking loss to a national mission of remembrance. This release marks the 20th anniversary of the death of his son, Corporal George "Tony" Lutz II, who was killed in Fallujah, Iraq, on December 29, 2005.
On that fateful day, Corporal Tony Lutz was killed by a sniper's bullet while on patrol in Fallujah, Iraq. The devastating news shattered his family and friends, plunging them into shock, grief, and an unimaginable loss - a pain familiar to countless other families across the nation. In the months following Tony's funeral, his father George visited other families who had lost loved ones in the war. What he discovered was a powerful, unspoken bond - a fellowship forged by sacrifice and shared sorrow, stretching back generations to the American Revolution, when the first patriots gave their lives for our country's freedom.
As the grief of these families turned to acceptance, one question echoed in their minds as it did in Tony's family: Will their loved ones truly be remembered? Determined to find an answer, George set out to discover a specific symbol that America used to honor military fallen in a way that would endure. Thus, the 'Honor and Remember' Flag was born - a definitive beacon of appreciation to forever recognize those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
George's mission of unification led him across all fifty states, grieving with thousands of Gold Star families, walking through the halls of Congress and speaking to whomever would listen. His tireless advocacy ignited a movement for national remembrance, fighting for the recognition and respect that every fallen warfighter and their families deserve.
What began in the wake of unimaginable devastation has grown into a nationwide movement. In Tragedy to Tribute, Lutz shares how he transformed his grief into purpose, creating the Honor and Remember Flag - a unifying symbol to publicly recognize every U.S. military service member who has died in the line of duty. Establishing the flag as our nation's unified expression of appreciation became a national mission. Through George's tireless efforts, the flag has become a powerful emblem of sacrifice, family, and enduring gratitude.
With a moving foreword by cultural commentator and longtime supporter Dennis Miller, the book opens with a heartfelt reflection on Lutz's extraordinary resolve: "As George navigated the depths of despair involved in the five stages of grief, with God's help, he entered a sixth stage: an indefatigability about never letting Tony and his sacred brethren ever be forgotten."
In Tragedy to Tribute, Lutz invites readers into the most sacred spaces of loss and healing - from the knock on the door that changed his life forever, to the quiet hours of anguish, and ultimately to the birth of a national movement. It is a story of faith, family, purpose, and the sacred power of remembrance.
Today, the Honor and Remember Flag flies proudly across the country:
· Legislated as an official state symbol in 28
U.S. states;
· Recognized in federal bill H.R.1363;
· Seen at NASCAR's Memorial Weekend tribute, NHL
Playoffs and Norwegian Cruise Line vessels;
· Displayed at corporate offices, state
buildings, town squares, schools, churches, and homes; and
· Presented in thousands of ceremonies to Gold Star families across the nation.
"This book is not just about Tony," says his proud father. "It's about every son and daughter who never came home - and every mother, father, spouse, and sibling who carries that sacrifice in their hearts forever. It's about a promise: We will never forget the sacrifices they made for our freedom."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: George Lutz is the founder of Honor and Remember, Inc., a national nonprofit dedicated to permanent public recognition of every U.S. service member who died in the line of duty. A Gold Star father and passionate advocate, Lutz has traveled to all fifty states, bringing honor, healing, and unity to thousands of military families across generations. Go to: TragedytoTribute.org
