10 USC § 8261 - Presentation of United States flag upon retirement

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t10/s8261"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "10 USC § 8261 - Presentation of United States flag upon retirement"
title_number: 10
title_name: "ARMED FORCES"
section_number: "8261"
section_name: "Presentation of United States flag upon retirement"
chapter_number: 831
chapter_name: "MISCELLANEOUS RIGHTS AND BENEFITS"
part_number: "II"
part_name: "PERSONNEL"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 105–261, div. A, title VI, § 644(b)(1), Oct. 17, 1998, 112 Stat. 2048, § 6141; amended Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title VI, § 652(e), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 666; renumbered § 8261, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 807(b)(10), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1835.)"
---


# § 8261. Presentation of United States flag upon retirement

**(a)** **Presentation of Flag.—** Upon the release of a member of the Navy or Marine Corps from active duty for retirement or transfer to the Fleet Reserve or the Fleet Marine Corps Reserve, the Secretary of the Navy 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.

---

**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 105–261, div. A, title VI, § 644(b)(1), Oct. 17, 1998, 112 Stat. 2048, § 6141; amended Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title VI, § 652(e), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 666; renumbered § 8261, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 807(b)(10), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1835.)

## Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 8261, acts , ; , , , related to enlistment in Air National Guard of United States, prior to repeal by , , . See .

### Amendments

2018— renumbered  as this section.

1999—Subsec. (b).  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 or 8681 of this title or .”

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2018 Amendment

Amendment by  effective , with provision for the coordination of amendments and special rule for certain redesignations, see , set out as a note preceding .

### Effective Date

Section applicable with respect to releases from active duty described in this section, sections 7251 and 9251 of this title, and , Coast Guard, on or after , see , set out as a note under .