Title 14, Coast GuardRelease 119-110
§2748 Presentation of United States Flag Upon Retirement
Title 14 › SUBTITLE II — PERSONNEL › CHAPTER 27 — PAY, ALLOWANCES, AWARDS, AND OTHER RIGHTS AND BENEFITS › SUBCHAPTER II — AWARDS › § 2748
Summary
The Secretary must give a United States flag to a Coast Guard member when the member leaves active duty to retire. A member cannot get a flag under this rule if they already received one under this or any other law when released from active service for retirement. The flag must be provided at no cost to the recipient.
Full Legal Text
Title 14, §2748
Coast Guard, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Presentation of Flag.—
Upon the release of a member of the Coast Guard from active duty for retirement, the Secretary shall present a United States flag to the member.
(b)Multiple Presentations Not Authorized.—
A member is not eligible for a presentation of a flag under subsection (a) if the member 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)No Cost to Recipient.—
The presentation of a flag under this section shall be at no cost to the recipient.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2018—Pub. L. 115–282 renumbered section 516 of this title as this section. 2012—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 112–213 struck out “of Homeland Security” after “Secretary”. 2002—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–296 substituted “of Homeland Security” for “of Transportation”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 107–314 substituted “this section” for “his section”. 1999—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 106–65 substituted “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.” for “under this section or section 3681, 6141, and 8681 of title 10.”
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2002 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 107–296 effective on the date of transfer of the Coast Guard to the Department of Homeland Security, see section 1704(g) of Pub. L. 107–296, set out as a note under section 101 of Title 10, Armed Forces.
Effective Date
Section applicable with respect to releases from active duty described in this section and section 7251, 8261, and 9251 of Title 10, Armed Forces, on or after Oct. 1, 1998, see section 644(e) of Pub. L. 105–261, set out as a note under section 7251 of Title 10, Armed Forces.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
14 U.S.C. § 2748
Title 14, Coast Guard
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110