{"title":"Who is Entitled to a U.S. Burial Flag?","description":"\u003ch1\u003eWho is Entitled to a U.S. Burial Flag? \u003c\/h1\u003e\nThe \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.va.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eVeterans Administration\u003c\/a\u003e\nprovides several burial benefits to deceased veterans who honorably \nserved in the armed forces for the United States. One such benefit is a \nUnited States burial flag. These \n\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cem.va.gov\/burial_benefits\/burial_flags.asp\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eburial flags\u003c\/a\u003e are provided as a way to honor the memory of departed Veteran’s military service to his or her country.\n\u003ch2\u003eWho is Eligible to Receive a Burial Flag?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\tGenerally veterans who were honorably discharged are eligible. Eligible veterans include:\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVeterans who had served during wartime    \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA Veteran who was killed on active duty after May 27, 1941    \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVeterans who served after January 31, 1955    \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA peacetime Veteran discharged or released before June 27, 1950    \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCertain persons who served in the \norganized military forces of the Commonwealth of the Philippines while \nin service of the United States Armed Forces and who were killed on or \nafter April 25, 1951    \n\t\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCertain former members of the Selected Reserves \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho is Not Eligible for a Burial Flag?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\tVeteran’s who were dishonorably discharged are not entitled to a burial flag. Also excluded from receiving a burial flag are:\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMembers of the Selected Reserve whose last discharge from service was under conditions less favorable than honorable    \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePeacetime veterans who were \ndischarged before June 27, 1950 and did not serve at least one complete \nenlistment or incur or aggravate a disability in the line of duty    \n\t\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVeterans who were convicted of a \nFederal capital crime and sentenced to death or life imprisonment, or \nwere convicted of a State capital crime and sentenced to death or life \nimprisonment without parole, or were found to have committed a Federal \nor State capital crime but were not convicted by reason of not being \navailable for trial due to death or flight to avoid prosecution    \n\t\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDischarged or rejected draftees, or \nmembers of the National Guard, who reported to camp in answer to the \nPresident's call for World War I service but who, when medically \nexamined, were not finally accepted for military service    \n\t\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePersons who were discharged from \nWorld War I service prior to November 12, 1918, on their own application\n or solicitation by reason of being an alien, or any veterans discharged\n for alienage during a period of hostilities.    \n\t\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePersons who served with any of the \nforces allied with the United States in any war, even though United \nStates citizens, if they did not serve with the United States armed \nforces. \n\t\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePersons inducted for training and \nservice who, before entering such training and service were transferred \nto the Enlisted Reserve Corps and given a furlough.\n\t\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFormer temporary members of the United States Coast Guard Reserve. \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho is Given the Burial Flag?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\tTypically\n the burial flag is given to the next of kin such as a spouse or \nsurviving child at the close of the funeral service. The burial flag is \nintended to be a sort of keepsake. If there is no next of kin available \nto receive the flag, the VA will furnish the flag to a friend who makes a\n request for it. Families may choose to donate their loved one’s burial \nflag to a VA National Cemetery which has an Avenue of Flags. These flags\n are usually flown on patriotic holidays at the cemeteries.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eApplying For A Flag\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\tUsually\n surviving family members go through their funeral director for the \nburial flag when planning the funeral service. If not going through the \nfuneral home you can apply for the burial flag by downloading and \ncompleting \n\t\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.vba.va.gov\/pubs\/forms\/VBA-27-2008-ARE.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eVA form 27-2008 Application for United States Flag for Burial Purposes\u003c\/a\u003e. You can get a flag at any regional office or U.S. Post Office.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFlag Replacement\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cimg alt=\"US Burial Flag\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0709\/9819\/6355\/files\/SC-299-burial-flag-1.jpg?v=1772727417\" style=\"float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;\"\u003eThe\n Veterans Administration can issue only one burial flag for a veteran’s \nfuneral as provided by law. If the flag is lost, stolen or destroyed it \ncannot be replaced. However, some Veteran’s organizations or other \ncommunity groups may be able to help you get another flag. Additionally,\n you can find online companies that \n\u003ca href=\"\/american-burial-flag-p\/sc-299-burial-flag.htm\"\u003esell burial flags\u003c\/a\u003e.\n\u003ch2\u003eHow is The Burial Flag Displayed?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\tDuring the funeral a burial flag is displayed on the casket in the following manner:\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\tHalf Couch (Open)\n\t- When the flag is used to drape a half-couch casket, it should be \nplaced in three layers to cover the closed half of the casket in such a \nmanner that the blue field will be the top fold, next to the open \nportion of the casket on the deceased's left.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\tFull Couch (Open)\n\t- When the flag is used to drape a full-couch casket, it should be \nfolded in a triangular shape and placed in the center part of the head \npanel of the casket cap, just above the left shoulder of the deceased.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\tAt\n the conclusion of the military honors funeral service the flag is \nhanded to the next of kin to be kept as a keepsake. Family members \ntypically will \n\t\u003ca href=\"\/flag-display-cases-s\/65.htm\"\u003epurchase a burial flag case\u003c\/a\u003e to display the flag in their home.\n\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[],"url":"https:\/\/www.everlifememorials.com\/collections\/who-is-entitled-to-a-u-s-burial-flag.oembed","provider":"Everlife Memorials","version":"1.0","type":"link"}