27-2008 Application for United States Flag for Burial Purposes

OMB Control No. 2900-0013
Respondent Burden: 15 Minutes
Expiration Date: XX/XX/20XX

APPLICATION FOR UNITED STATES FLAG FOR BURIAL PURPOSES
PRIVACY ACT NOTICE: VA will not disclose information collected on this form to any source other than what has been authorized under the Privacy Act of 1974 or Title 38, Code of
Federal Regulations 1.576 for routine uses (i.e., civil or criminal law enforcement, congressional communications, epidemiological or research studies, the collection of money owed to the
United States, litigation in which the United States is a party or has an interest, the administration of VA programs and delivery of VA benefits, verification of identity and status, and personnel
administration) as identified in the VA system of records, 58VA21/22/28, Compensation, Pension, Education, and Veteran Readiness and Employment Records - VA, published in the Federal
Register. Your obligation to respond is required to obtain or retain benefits. Giving us the veteran's SSN account information is voluntary. Refusal to provide the veteran's SSN by itself will not
result in the denial of benefits. VA will not deny an individual benefits for refusing to provide his or her SSN unless the disclosure of the SSN is required by a Federal Statute of law in effect
prior to January 1, 1975, and still in effect. The requested information is considered relevant and necessary to determine entitlement to benefits under the law. The responses you submit are
considered confidential (38 U.S.C. 5701). Information submitted is subject to verification through computer matching programs with other agencies.
RESPONDENT BURDEN: An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control
number. The OMB control number for this project is 2900-0013, and it expires XX/XX/20XX. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 15 minutes per
respondent, per year, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of
information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate and any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to VA Reports Clearance
Officer at [email protected]. Please refer to OMB Control No. 2900-0013 in any correspondence. Do not send your completed VA Form 27-2008 to this email address.

IMPORTANT - Postmaster or other issuing official: Submit this form to address shown below at the bottom of this page.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE DECEASED VETERAN (Complete as much as possible)
(Information provided is considered essential when applying for other VA benefits.)
1. FIRST, MIDDLE, LAST NAME OF VETERAN (Print or type)

3. VA FILE NUMBER

2. MAIDEN NAME OR OTHER NAME(S) VETERAN USED WHILE ON ACTIVE
DUTY (Print or type)

4. SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

5. MILITARY SERVICE NUMBER/SERIAL NUMBER

6. BRANCH OF SERVICE (Check box)
ARMY

NAVY

COAST GUARD

AIR FORCE

SPACE FORCE

USPHS

NOAA

MARINE CORPS

7. DATE ENTERED ACTIVE
DUTY (or Selected Reserve)

(MM/DD/YYYY)

8. DATE RELEASED FROM
ACTIVE DUTY (or Selected

Reserve) (MM/DD/YYYY)

SELECTED SERVICE (See Section C(3) on page 2):
OTHER (See Section C(1) on page 2):
9. DATE OF BIRTH (MM/DD/YYYY)

11. DATE OF BURIAL (MM/DD/YYYY)

10. DATE OF DEATH (MM/DD/YYYY)

12. PLACE OF BURIAL (Name of cemetery, city, and State)

13. HAS DOCUMENTATION BEEN PRESENTED OR ATTACHED THAT SHOWS THE VETERAN MEETS THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA? (See Paragraphs C, D, and E of

the "Instructions")

NO (If "No," explain in Item 15, "Remarks" (See paragraph E of the "Instructions"))

YES

INFORMATION ABOUT THE FLAG RECIPIENT AND APPLICANT
14B. RELATIONSHIP OF DECEASED VETERAN (See Paragraph F of the "Instructions")

14A. NAME OF PERSON ENTITLED TO RECEIVE FLAG

14C. ADDRESS OF PERSON ENTITLED TO RECEIVE FLAG (Number and street or rural route, city or P.O., State and ZIP Code)

14D. TELEPHONE NUMBER

15. REMARKS

I CERTIFY that the statements made in this document are true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I further certify that the deceased veteran is eligible, in
accordance with the attached instructions, for issue of a United States flag for burial purposes, and such flag has not been previously applied for or furnished.
16. SIGNATURE OF APPLICANT (Sign in INK)

17. ADDRESS OF APPLICANT (Number and street or rural route, city or P.O.,

and ZIP Code)

19. DATE SIGNED (MM/DD/YYYY)

18. RELATIONSHIP TO DECEASED VETERAN

PENALTY - The law provides that whoever makes any statement of a material fact knowing it to be false shall be punished by a fine, imprisonment, or both.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT OF FLAG (ONLY ONE FLAG MAY BE ISSUED FOR EACH DECEASED VETERAN)
20. SIGNATURE OF PERSON RECEIVING FLAG (Sign in INK)

21. DATE FLAG ISSUED (MM/DD/YYYY)

When the burial flag is issued, send the completed VA Form 27-2008 to:
NCA Field Programs Evidence Intake Center
PO Box 5237
Janesville, WI 53547
VA FORM
XXX XXXX

27-2008

SEE INSTRUCTIONS

SUPERSEDES VA FORM 27- 2008, APR 2021,
WHICH WILL NOT BE USED.

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INSTRUCTIONS
A. How can I contact VA if I have questions?
If you have questions about this form, how to fill it out, or about benefits, contact
your nearest VA regional office. You can locate the address of the nearest
regional office in your telephone book blue pages under "United States
Government, Veterans" or call 1-800-827-1000 (Hearing Impaired TDD relay line
is 711). You may also contact VA by Internet at https://iris.custhelp.va.gov/.
B. How do I apply for a burial flag?
Complete VA Form 27-2008, and submit it to any VA regional office or U.S. Post
Office. When a burial is in a national, State, or military post cemetery, a burial
flag will be provided by a funeral home.
NOTE: Applicants residing overseas can apply for burial flags at U.S.
embassies and consulates.
C. Who is eligible for a burial flag?
Generally, veterans with an other than dishonorable discharge.
(1) This includes veterans who served in the Philippine military forces while
such forces were in the service of the U.S. armed forces under the President's
Order of July 26, 1941 and died on or after April 25, 1951, and veterans who
served in the Philippine military services are eligible for burial in a national
cemetery.
(2) Veterans who were entitled to retired pay for service in the reserves, or
would have been entitled to such pay but not for being under 60 years of age.
(3) Members or former members of the Selected Reserve (Army, Air Force,
Coast Guard, Marine Corps, or Naval Reserve; Air National Guard; or Army
National Guard) who served at least one enlistment or, in the case of an officer,
the period of initial obligation, or were discharged for disability incurred or
aggravated in line of duty, or died while a member
of the Selected Reserve.
D. Who is not eligible for a burial flag?
Veterans who received a dishonorable discharge.

E. What documentation is required in order to receive a burial flag?
Provide a copy of the veteran's discharge documents that shows service dates and
the character of service, such as DD Form 214, or verification of service from the
veteran's service department or VA. Various information requested, is considered
essential to the proper processing of the application. Ensure these areas are
completed as fully as possible.
NOTE: If the claimant is unable to provide documentary proof, a flag may be
issued when a statement is made by a person of established character and
reputation that he/she personally knows the deceased to have been a veteran who
meets the eligibility criteria.
F. Who is eligible to receive a burial flag?
Only one flag may be issued for each deceased veteran. Generally, the flag is
given to the next-of-kin as a keepsake after its use during the funeral service. The
flag is given to the following person(s) in the order of precedence listed:
• surviving spouse
• children, according to age
• parents, including adoptive, stepparents, and foster parents
• brothers or sisters, including brothers or sisters of half blood
• uncles or aunts
• nephews or nieces
• others, such as cousins or grandparents
NOTE: When there is no next-of-kin, VA will furnish the flag to a friend
making a request for it. If there is no living relative or one cannot be located, and
no friend requests the flag, it must be returned to the nearest VA facility.
G. Can a burial flag be replaced?
VA cannot replace a burial flag if it is lost, destroyed or stolen. However, some
veteran organizations or community groups may be able to help you get another
flag.

• Members of the Selected Reserve whose last discharge from service was
under conditions less favorable than honorable.
• Peacetime veterans who were discharged before June 27, 1950 and did
not serve at least one complete enlistment or incur or aggravate a disability
in the line of duty.
• Veterans who were convicted of a Federal capital crime and sentenced to
death or life imprisonment, or were convicted of a State capital crime and
sentenced to death or life imprisonment without parole, or were found to
have committed a Federal or State capital crime but were not convicted
by reason of not being available for trial due to death or flight to avoid
prosecution.
• Discharged or rejected draftees, or members of the National Guard, who
reported to camp in answer to the President's call for World War I service
but who, when medically examined, were not finally accepted for military
service.
• Persons who were discharged from World War I service prior to
November 12, 1918, on their own application or solicitation by reason of
being an alien, or any veterans discharged for alienage during a period of
hostilities.
• Persons who served with any of the forces allied with the United States in
any war, even though United States citizens, if they did not serve with the
United States armed forces.
• Persons inducted for training and service who, before entering such
training and service were transferred to the Enlisted Reserve Corps and
given a furlough.
• Former temporary members of the United States Coast Guard Reserve.

VA FORM 27-2008, XXX XXXX

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ISSUING OFFICIAL WILL DETACH THIS SHEET AND PRESENT IT TO THE RECIPIENT OF THE FLAG

USE OF THE FLAG
1. This flag is issued on behalf of the Department of Veterans
Affairs to honor the memory of one who has served our country.
2. When used to drape the casket, the flag should be placed as
follows:
(a) Closed Casket - When the flag is used to drape a closed
casket, it should be so placed that the union (blue field) is
at the head and over the left shoulder of the deceased.
(b) Half Couch (Open) - When the flag is used to drape a halfcouch casket, it should be placed in three layers to cover
the closed half of the casket in such a manner that the blue
field will be the top fold, next to the open portion of the
casket on the deceased's left.

5. The flag should not be lowered into the grave or allowed to touch
the ground. When taken from the casket, it should be folded as
shown (see illustration).
6. The flag should form a distinctive feature of the ceremony of the
unveiling of a statue or monument, but it should never be used
as a covering for the statue or monument.
7. The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stowed in
such a manner as will permit it to be easily torn, soiled, or
damaged in any way.
8. The flag should never have placed upon it, nor any part of it, nor
attached to it, any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design,
picture, or drawing of any nature.

(c) Full Couch (Open) - When the flag is used to drape a fullcouch casket, it should be folded in a triangular shape and
placed in the center part of the head panel of the casket
cap, just above the left shoulder of the deceased.

9. The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving,
holding, carrying, or delivering anything.

3. During a military commitment ceremony, the flag which was used
to drape the casket is held waist high over the grave by the
pallbearers and, immediately after the sounding of "Taps," is
folded in accordance with the illustration below.

10. The flag, when badly worn, torn, or soiled should no longer be
publicly displayed, but privately destroyed by burning in such a
manner as to convey no suggestion of disrespect or
irreverence.

4. Folding the flag (see illustration below):

CORRECT METHOD OF FOLDING THE UNITED STATES FLAG

(A) Straighten out the flag to full
length and fold lengthwise
once, folding the lower striped
section of the flag over the
blue field.
(B) Fold the flag lengthwise a
second time to meet the open
edge, making sure that the
union of stars on the blue field
remains outward in full view.
(C) A triangular fold is then started
by bringing the striped corner
of the folded edge to the open
edge.

VA FORM 27-2008, XXX XXXX

(D) The outer point is then
turned inward, parallel with
the open edge to form a
second triangle.

(E) The diagonal or triangular
folding is continued toward
the blue union until the end
is reached, with only the
blue showing and the form
being that of a cocked (three
corner) hat.

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