10 USC § 9251 - Presentation of United States flag upon retirement

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t10/s9251"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "10 USC § 9251 - Presentation of United States flag upon retirement"
title_number: 10
title_name: "ARMED FORCES"
section_number: "9251"
section_name: "Presentation of United States flag upon retirement"
chapter_number: 933
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(c)(1), Oct. 17, 1998, 112 Stat. 2049, § 8681; amended Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title VI, § 652(e), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 666; renumbered § 9251, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 806(b)(9), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1833; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, § 923(c)(9), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3811.)"
---


# § 9251. Presentation of United States flag upon retirement

**(a)** **Presentation of Flag.—** Upon the release of a member of the Air Force or the Space Force from active duty for retirement, the Secretary of the Air Force 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.

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**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 105–261, div. A, title VI, § 644(c)(1), Oct. 17, 1998, 112 Stat. 2049, § 8681; amended Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title VI, § 652(e), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 666; renumbered § 9251, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 806(b)(9), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1833; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, § 923(c)(9), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3811.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2021—Subsec. (a).  inserted “or the Space Force” after “member of the Air Force”.

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 6141 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 8261 of this title, and , Coast Guard, on or after , see , set out as a note under .