Can civilians receive a burial flag?
Civilians must purchase the flag at their own expense. My father, a war veteran, requested that he be buried wrapped in a flag. There is a tradition to bury a war veteran with a small flag or should it be requested, it is proper for a veteran to be buried with his or her body wrapped in the flag.
Who is eligible to receive a US flag?
(1) Persons eligible. (i) A veteran of any war, of Mexican border service, or of service after January 31, 1955, discharged or released from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable.
Who should get the flag at a military funeral?
At the funeral, the flag is presented to the deceased’s next of kin. The next of kin is the person who is most closely related to the veteran. After receiving the flag, it is tradition among the family members to preserve for display in the house, usually in a frame.
Do reservists get a flag at their funeral?
We provide a United States flag to drape on a casket (or coffin) or place with an urn in honor of the military service of a Veteran or Reservist. Find out how to apply for this burial honor.
Why do they fold the flag into a triangle?
The flag folding ceremony represents the same religious principles on which our country was originally founded. In the Armed Forces of the United States, at the ceremony of retreat the flag is lowered, folded in a triangle fold and kept under watch throughout the night as a tribute to our nation’s honored dead.
What is the proper way to dispose of an American flag?
According to the U.S. Flag Code, “The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning”. While this is the preferred way to dispose a flag, it can also be dangerous.
Is throwing away an American flag illegal?
It is illegal to throw away the American Flag and the Flag Codes state that it should be destroyed with “with dignity, preferably by burning.” There are several ways to respectfully dispose of an American flag. The most common method is burning the torn or tattered flag in a special ceremony.