36 USC § 903 - Designation of Medal of Honor Flag

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t36/s903"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "36 USC § 903 - Designation of Medal of Honor Flag"
title_number: 36
title_name: "PATRIOTIC AND NATIONAL OBSERVANCES, CEREMONIES, AND ORGANIZATIONS"
section_number: "903"
section_name: "Designation of Medal of Honor Flag"
chapter_number: 9
chapter_name: "MISCELLANEOUS"
part_number: "A"
part_name: "Observances and Ceremonies"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 107–248, title VIII, § 8143(b)(1), Oct. 23, 2002, 116 Stat. 1570; amended Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 809(l)(1), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1843.)"
---


# § 903. Designation of Medal of Honor Flag

**(a)** **Designation.—** The Secretary of Defense shall design and designate a flag as the Medal of Honor Flag. In selecting the design for the flag, the Secretary shall consider designs submitted by the general public.

**1** **Presentation.—** The Medal of Honor Flag shall be presented as specified in sections 7285, 8307, and 9285 of title 10 and section 505 [^1] of title 14.

See References in Text note below.

---

**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 107–248, title VIII, § 8143(b)(1), Oct. 23, 2002, 116 Stat. 1570; amended Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 809(*l*)(1), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1843.)

## Editorial Notes

### References in Text

, referred to in subsec. (b), was redesignated  by , , , and references to  deemed to refer to such redesignated section, see , set out as a References to Sections of Title 14 as Redesignated by  note preceding , Coast Guard.

### Amendments

2018—Subsec. (b).  substituted “sections 7285, 8307, and 9285 of title 10” for “sections 3755, 6257, and 8755 of title 10”.

## 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 , Armed Forces.

### Findings

> **“(1)** the Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Forces of the United States;
> 
> **“(2)** the Medal of Honor was established by Congress during the Civil War to recognize soldiers who had distinguished themselves by gallantry in action;
> 
> **“(3)** the Medal of Honor was conceived by Senator James Grimes of the State of Iowa in 1861; and
> 
> **“(4)** the Medal of Honor is the Nation’s highest military honor, awarded for acts of personal bravery or self-sacrifice above and beyond the call of duty.”

, , , provided that:

### Presentation of Medal of Honor Flag

, , , required the President to provide for the expeditious presentation of the Medal of Honor Flag designated under this section to each person awarded the Medal of Honor before , who was living as of that date.