Title 38 — Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-73not60
§2301 Flags
Title 38 › Part II— GENERAL BENEFITS › Chapter 23— BURIAL BENEFITS › § 2301
Summary
The Secretary must give an American flag to cover the casket of certain deceased veterans and service members. That includes veterans who fought in any war or who served after January 31, 1955, if they finished at least one enlistment or were discharged for a duty-related disability; people entitled to retired pay under chapter 67 of title 10 (or who would be but for being under 60); people who died on active duty after May 27, 1941; people buried in a national cemetery under the eligibility in section 2402(a)(6); and members or former members of the Selected Reserve who meet one of three tests (completed an enlistment or initial obligated service, were discharged for a duty-related disability before finishing that term, or died while a member). A flag may not be given to someone barred by section 2411(b). The “Mexican border period” covers January 1, 1911 through May 8, 1916. After burial the flag goes to the next of kin, or if none, to a close friend or other person the Secretary thinks appropriate. Flags must be wholly made in the United States, but the Secretary can waive that rule if it cannot be met or if it would harm national interest, and must tell Congress in writing within 30 days of that waiver. “Wholly produced in the United States” means the materials, processing, and final manufacture and assembly all happened in the United States.
Full Legal Text
Title 38, §2301
Veterans' Benefits — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)The Secretary shall furnish a flag to drape the casket of each—
(1)deceased veteran who—
(A)was a veteran of any war, or of service after January 31, 1955;
(B)had served at least one enlistment; or
(C)had been discharged or released from the active military, naval, air, or space service for a disability incurred or aggravated in line of duty; and
(2)deceased individual who at the time of death was entitled to retired pay under chapter 67 11 See References in Text note below. of title 10 or would have been entitled to retired pay under that chapter but for the fact that the person was under 60 years of age.
(b)After the burial of the veteran the flag so furnished shall be given to the veteran’s next of kin. If no claim is made for the flag by the next of kin, it may be given, upon request, to a close friend or associate of the deceased veteran. If a flag is given to a close friend or associate of the deceased veteran, no flag shall be given to any other person on account of the death of such veteran.
(c)For the purpose of this section, the term “Mexican border period” as defined in paragraph (30) of section 101 of this title includes the period beginning on January 1, 1911, and ending on May 8, 1916.
(d)In the case of any person who died while in the active military, naval, air, or space service after May 27, 1941, the Secretary shall furnish a flag to the next of kin, or to such other person as the Secretary considers most appropriate, if such next of kin or other person is not otherwise entitled to receive a flag under this section or under section 1482(a) of title 10.
(e)The Secretary shall furnish a flag to drape the casket of each deceased person who is buried in a national cemetery by virtue of eligibility for burial in such cemetery under section 2402(a)(6) of this title. After the burial, the flag shall be given to the next of kin or to such other person as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(f)(1)The Secretary shall furnish a flag to drape the casket of each deceased member or former member of the Selected Reserve (as described in section 10143 of title 10) who is not otherwise eligible for a flag under this section or section 1482(a) of title 10—
(A)who completed at least one enlistment as a member of the Selected Reserve or, in the case of an officer, completed the period of initial obligated service as a member of the Selected Reserve;
(B)who was discharged before completion of the person’s initial enlistment as a member of the Selected Reserve or, in the case of an officer, period of initial obligated service as a member of the Selected Reserve, for a disability incurred or aggravated in line of duty; or
(C)who died while a member of the Selected Reserve.
(2)A flag may not be furnished under subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) in the case of a person whose last discharge from service in the Armed Forces was under conditions less favorable than honorable.
(3)After the burial, a flag furnished under paragraph (1) shall be given to the next of kin or to such other person as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(g)A flag may not be furnished under this section in the case of a person described in section 2411(b) of this title.
(h)(1)The Secretary may not procure any flag for the purposes of this section that is not wholly produced in the United States.
(2)(A)The Secretary may waive the requirement of paragraph (1) if the Secretary determines—
(i)that the requirement cannot be reasonably met; or
(ii)that compliance with the requirement would not be in the national interest of the United States.
(B)The Secretary shall submit to Congress in writing notice of a determination under subparagraph (A) not later than 30 days after the date on which such determination is made.
(3)For the purpose of paragraph (1), a flag shall be considered to be wholly produced in the United States only if—
(A)the materials and components of the flag are entirely grown, manufactured, or created in the United States;
(B)the processing (including spinning, weaving, dyeing, and finishing) of such materials and components is entirely performed in the United States; and
(C)the manufacture and assembling of such materials and components into the flag is entirely performed in the United States.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Chapter 67 of title 10, referred to in subsec. (a)(2), was transferred to part II of subtitle E of Title 10, Armed Forces, renumbered as chapter 1223, and amended generally by Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, § 1662(j)(1), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2998. A new chapter 67 (§ 1331) of Title 10 was added by section 1662(j)(7) of Pub. L. 103–337.
Amendments
2021—Subsecs. (a)(1)(C), (d). Pub. L. 116–283 substituted “air, or space service” for “or air service”. 2010—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 111–275 substituted “section 2402(a)(6)” for “section 2402(6)”. 2002—Subsecs. (g), (h). Pub. L. 107–330 added subsec. (g) and redesignated former subsec. (g) as (h). 2001—Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 107–14, § 8(a)(3)(A), directed the substitution of “(as described in section” for “(as described in section” in introductory provisions, requiring no change in text. Subsec. (f)(2). Pub. L. 107–14, § 8(a)(3)(B), substituted “subparagraph” for “subparagraphs”. 1998—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 105–261, § 517, added subsec. (f). Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 105–261, § 1073(a), added subsec. (g). 1992—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–547 amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) read as follows: “The Secretary shall furnish a flag to drape the casket of each deceased veteran who— “(1) was a veteran of any war, or of service after
January 31, 1955; “(2) had served at least one enlistment; or “(3) had been discharged or released from the active military, naval, or air service for a disability incurred or aggravated in line of duty.” 1991—Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), renumbered section 901 of this title as this section. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 102–54 substituted “considers” for “deems”, struck out comma after “this section”, and struck out “, United States Code” after “title 10”. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1), substituted “2402(6)” for “1002(6)”. 1989—Subsecs. (a), (d), (e). Pub. L. 101–237 substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” wherever appearing. 1986—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99–576 substituted “the veteran’s” for “his”. 1982—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 97–306 added subsec. (e). 1970—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 91–588, § 9(g)(1), struck out reference to the Mexican border service. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 91–588, § 9(g)(2), substituted “For the purpose of this section, the term ‘Mexican border period’ as defined in paragraph (30) of section 101 of this title includes the period beginning on
January 1, 1911, and ending on
May 8, 1916” for “For the purpose of this section, the term ‘Mexican border service’ means active military, naval, or air service during the period beginning on
January 1, 1911, and ending on
April 5, 1917, in Mexico, on the borders thereof, or in the waters adjacent thereto”. 1967—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 90–77 added subsec. (d). 1966—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 89–358 required a flag to be furnished to drape the casket of a deceased veteran who served after Jan. 31, 1955. 1961—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 87–240, § 1(1), inserted “or of Mexican border service” after “veteran of any war”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 87–240, § 1(2), added subsec. (c).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2010 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 111–275 applicable with respect to the death, on or after Oct. 13, 2010, of the parent of a person described in section 2402(a)(9)(B) of this title, who dies on or after October 7, 2001, see section 502(e) of Pub. L. 111–275, set out as a note under section 107 of this title.
Effective Date
of 2002 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 107–330 applicable with respect to deaths occurring on or after Dec. 6, 2002, see section 201(d) of Pub. L. 107–330, set out as a note under section 112 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1998 Amendment Pub. L. 105–261, div. A, title X, § 1073(b), Oct. 17, 1998, 112 Stat. 2138, provided that: “Subsection (g) of section 2301 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply to flags procured by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the purposes of section 2301 of title 38, United States Code, after the end of the 30-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 17, 1998].”
Effective Date
of 1982 Amendment Pub. L. 97–306, title IV, § 402(b), Oct. 14, 1982, 96 Stat. 1443, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply with respect to burials after September 30, 1982.”
Effective Date
of 1970 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 91–588 effective Jan. 1, 1971, see section 10(a) of Pub. L. 91–588, set out as a note under section 1521 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1967 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 90–77 effective first day of first calendar month which begins more than ten days after Aug. 31, 1967, see section 405 of Pub. L. 90–77, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
38 U.S.C. § 2301
Title 38 — Veterans' Benefits
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60