The standard burial flag size is 5 feet by 9 feet 6 inches, large enough to drape a closed casket from head to foot with fabric to spare along the sides. The Department of Veterans Affairs provides this flag at no cost to honor an eligible veteran or Reservist, and federal law includes it in the minimum military funeral honors.
Dimensions and Material
At 60 by 114 inches, the burial flag is noticeably larger than the flags most households fly. The extra length is deliberate: it lets the flag cover the full length of a casket and tuck cleanly along the sides during the service.
These flags are built to federal specification DDD-F-416F. They are made of 100% cotton, with embroidered stars, sewn stripes, and a canvas header. Cotton gives the flag a heavier drape and a more formal look than the nylon or polyester used for everyday outdoor flags, but it also means the flag is not made to survive rain, wind, or long stretches of sunlight. If you want to fly a flag outdoors in a veteran’s memory, buy a separate all-weather flag and keep the burial flag inside.
Who Qualifies for a VA Burial Flag
Federal law directs the VA to furnish a flag for a deceased veteran who served during wartime, served after January 31, 1955, completed at least one full enlistment, or was discharged for a service-connected disability.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 38 USC 2301 Flags Anyone who died while on active duty after May 27, 1941 is covered regardless of length of service.
Eligibility also reaches certain members of the Selected Reserve who completed at least one enlistment or were discharged for a service-connected disability, along with individuals buried in a national cemetery under specific qualifying provisions.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 38 USC 2301 Flags A flag will not be furnished if the last discharge was under conditions less favorable than honorable.
How to Request One
The next of kin, a close friend, or a funeral director acting for the family completes VA Form 27-2008 (Application for United States Flag for Burial Purposes) and takes it to a funeral director, a VA regional office, or a United States post office.2Veterans Affairs. Burial Flags to Honor Veterans and Reservists Attaching a copy of the DD Form 214 or other discharge documentation speeds things up, but a post office cannot delay or refuse the flag as long as the person requesting it signs the application certifying eligibility.3VA.gov. Guidance Burial Flag Program for Post Offices
There is no deadline. A family can apply years after the veteran’s death if a flag was never issued.3VA.gov. Guidance Burial Flag Program for Post Offices Only one flag is issued per veteran, though. If a flag was already provided for the funeral, the VA will not furnish a second one.2Veterans Affairs. Burial Flags to Honor Veterans and Reservists
Who Receives the Folded Flag
After the burial, the folded flag goes to the veteran’s next of kin. If no next of kin claims it, a close friend or associate who helped arrange the burial may request it, and once it is given to a close friend, no one else can claim one for that veteran.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 38 USC 2301 Flags
When more than one person is in line for the flag, the honor detail follows a set order of precedence: spouse first, then children (oldest to youngest), then parents, siblings, grandparents, nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, and finally other relatives and friends in the order the next of kin prefers. If two people at the same level both request the flag, the VA field facility with jurisdiction decides who is most equitably entitled to receive it.4eCFR. 38 CFR 1.10 Eligibility for and Disposition of the United States Flag for Burial Purposes
Keeping the Flag in Good Condition
Most families keep the folded flag in a triangular display case, and the choice of case matters more than people realize. Cotton is vulnerable to light damage and acid deterioration over time. A case with UV-filtering acrylic instead of plain glass protects the fabric from fading, and lining the interior with acid-free museum board keeps the wood from discoloring or weakening the cloth. These are the same principles conservators use for historical textiles, and they are the difference between a flag that still looks sharp decades later and one that turns brittle and yellow.
Keep the display case out of direct sunlight and away from high-humidity spots like bathrooms or uninsulated attics. If you store related documents alongside the flag, acid-free envelopes add another layer of protection.
If the Flag Is Lost or Worn Out
The VA cannot replace a burial flag that is lost, stolen, or destroyed.2Veterans Affairs. Burial Flags to Honor Veterans and Reservists Some veterans organizations may help you locate a replacement, but the VA itself has no mechanism to issue a second flag for the same veteran. That is why the preservation steps above matter.
When a burial flag eventually deteriorates past the point where it can be displayed respectfully, the U.S. Flag Code calls for destroying it in a dignified manner, preferably by burning.5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 4 USC 8 Respect for Flag Many American Legion posts and VFW chapters hold annual flag retirement ceremonies and will accept worn flags. Dropping the flag off at one of these ceremonies is the simplest way to see it retired with the respect it deserves.