Title 42 — The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73
§214 Presentation of United States flag upon retirement
Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 6A— - PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - ADMINISTRATION AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › Part Part A— - Administration › § 214
Summary
When a commissioned corps officer retires from active service, the HHS Secretary must give them a U.S. flag for free, unless the officer already received one under any law.
Full Legal Text
Title 42, §214
The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Upon the release of an officer of the commissioned corps of the Service from active commissioned service for retirement, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall present a United States flag to the officer.
(b)An officer is not eligible for presentation of a flag under subsection (a) if the officer has previously been presented a flag under this section or any other provision of law providing for the presentation of a United States flag incident to release from active service for retirement.
(c)The presentation of a flag under this section shall be at no cost to the recipient.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 214, acts July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title II, § 213, 58 Stat. 689; Apr. 27, 1956, ch. 211, § 2(a), 70 Stat. 116, authorized allowances for uniforms, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 87–649, § 14b, Sept. 7, 1962, 76 Stat. 499. See section 415 of Title 37, Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section applicable with respect to releases from service described in section on or after Oct. 1, 1999, see section 652(d) of Pub. L. 106–65, set out as a note under section 12605 of Title 10, Armed Forces.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 214
Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73