Section 17A. The superintendent is hereby designated as the custodian of the flags carried in time of war by organizations of Massachusetts men or women in the military or naval service of the United States, which flags are now in the possession of the commonwealth or which in the future may come into such possession.
He shall exercise proper care, custody and preservation of such flags, and shall keep on file at all times a record open to public inspection, containing such details concerning such flags and including such pictorial representations as he may deem proper, and shall give an account thereof each year in his annual report.
He shall have supervision over the Hall of Flags, and all cases and cabinets therein, and over all cases and cabinets in Doric Hall or elsewhere in the state house wherein any such flags as are referred to herein are now or may in the future be on public display.
He may provide proper streamers and marks of insignia for identification of any of the flags referred to herein. The standard given to the regiment of Massachusetts volunteers in Mexico by General Winfield Scott, and now in the quarters of the senate, shall be retained therein, and he shall cause a proper case or cabinet to be provided therefor. In the event that other flags of the Mexican War, the Civil War, the Spanish–American War or World War I shall come into the possession of the commonwealth, he shall cause suitable provision to be made for their preservation with the other flags of the respective units involved. In the event that flags of World War II shall come into the possession of the commonwealth, he shall cause proper cases or cabinets to be provided therefor, either in the Hall of Flags or in Doric Hall.
The flags referred to herein shall not be removed from the state house without the express permission of the general court.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth
Chapter 8 - State Superintendent of Buildings, and State House
Section 1 - Bureau of the State House; Superintendent of the State House
Section 4 - Appointment of Employees
Section 5 - Cleaners; Salary; Work Week
Section 6 - Repairs and Improvements; Requisitions
Section 6a - Purchases Not Exceeding $5,000
Section 7 - Repair of Damage to State House
Section 9 - Operation and Maintenance of State House
Section 10 - Assignment of Rooms in State House and Elsewhere; Exceptions
Section 14 - Military History Museum
Section 16 - Land Around State House; Open Space
Section 17 - Rooms in State House for Departments of War Veterans
Section 17b - Selected Writings of John Adams; Exhibition in State House
Section 18a - Veteran Memorabilia; State House Exhibits; Records
Section 19 - Portraits of Designated Former Governors
Section 19a - Portraits or Other Memorials of Former Governors
Section 20 - Old Provincial State House; Maintenance and Preservation