U.S. Flags For Military Funerals

If an active duty person dies, the service will furnish the flag to drape his or her coffin. For veteran's funerals, flags are provided by the Veteran's Administration and may be obtained at the local Post Office. Note that the veteran must have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable and must have served either in wartime or the Korean or Vietnam conflicts or have served at least one peacetime enlistment unless discharged or released sooner for disability incurred in the line of duty. The flag will be presented at the proper time during the burial service to the next of kin. If there is no next of kin, it will be presented upon request to a close friend or associate of the veteran. The Veteran's Administration does require evidence of death and of the character of discharge.

When the flag is used to cover a casket, it should be so placed that the union is at the head and over the should. The flag should not be lowered into the grave or allowed to touch the ground.