NJ AJR44

Designates March 9 of each year as U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day in New Jersey to honor Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad, past, present, and future.

March 9 commemorates Robert A. Levinson, a retired FBI special agent abducted from Kish Island, Iran on March 9, 2007, who remains the longest-held U.S. hostage at 18 years.

Requests the Governor to display the Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Flag at the State Capitol on designated dates including March 9, Flag Day, Independence Day, August 19 (honoring James Foley), October 7 (Hamas hostages), and November 4/January 20 (Iranian hostage crisis).

Notes that as of 2024, at least 54 Americans were held hostage or wrongfully detained in 17 countries, with the average detention lasting 5.9 years; since 2015, 18 Americans have died in captivity abroad.

Encourages state and local government entities to also display the flag on these designated dates to demonstrate commitment to the freedom of American hostages and wrongful detainees.