Honoring Veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides a United States flag at no cost to the next-of-kin of a deceased veteran. The flag is provided as a keepsake designed to honor the memory of the veteran. It is typically used during the funeral or memorial service during the flag folding and presentation ceremony detailed above before being presented to the family or next-of-kin. 

Family members or close friends of the veteran may apply for a burial flag if the veteran meets one of the following eligibility requirements: 

• The veteran served during wartime
• They died while serving on active duty after May 27, 1941
• The veteran served after January 31, 1955
• They served in peacetime and were discharged or released from service before June 27, 1950 after serving at least one enlistment or were discharged due to disability that was caused or made worse by active military service. 
• In certain cases, those who served in the Selected Reserves and those who served in the organized military forces of the Commonwealth of the Philippines while in service of the U.S. Armed Forces and who died on or after April 25, 1951.