Collapse to view only § 903. Designation of Medal of Honor Flag
- § 901. Service flag and service lapel button
- § 902. National League of Families POW/MIA flag
- § 903. Designation of Medal of Honor Flag
- § 904. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag
§ 901. Service flag and service lapel button
(a)Individuals Entitled To Display Service Flag.—A service flag approved by the Secretary of Defense may be displayed in a window of the place of residence of individuals who are members of the immediate family of an individual serving in the Armed Forces of the United States during any period of war or hostilities in which the Armed Forces of the United States are engaged.
(b)Individuals Entitled To Display Service Lapel Button.—A service lapel button approved by the Secretary may be worn by members of the immediate family of an individual serving in the Armed Forces of the United States during any period of war or hostilities in which the Armed Forces of the United States are engaged.
(c)License To Manufacture and Sell Service Flags and Service Lapel Buttons.—Any person may apply to the Secretary for a license to manufacture and sell the approved service flag, or the approved service lapel button, or both. Any person that manufactures a service flag or service lapel button without having first obtained a license, or otherwise violates this section is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $1,000.
(d)Regulations.—The Secretary may prescribe regulations necessary to carry out this section.
(Pub. L. 105–225, Aug. 12, 1998, 112 Stat. 1267.)
§ 902. National League of Families POW/MIA flag
(a)Designation.—The National League of Families POW/MIA flag is designated as the symbol of our Nation’s concern and commitment to resolving as fully as possible the fates of Americans still prisoner, missing, and unaccounted for in Southeast Asia, thus ending the uncertainty for their families and the Nation.
(b)Required Display.—The POW/MIA flag shall be displayed at the locations specified in subsection (d) of this section on POW/MIA flag display days. The display serves—
(1) as the symbol of the Nation’s concern and commitment to achieving the fullest possible accounting of Americans who, having been prisoners of war or missing in action, still remain unaccounted for; and
(2) as the symbol of the Nation’s commitment to achieving the fullest possible accounting for Americans who in the future may become prisoners of war, missing in action, or otherwise unaccounted for as a result of hostile action.
(c)Days for Flag Display.—For the purposes of this section, POW/MIA flag display days are all days on which the flag of the United States is displayed.
(d)Locations for Flag Display.—The locations for the display of the POW/MIA flag under subsection (b) of this section are the following:
(1) The Capitol.
(2) The White House.
(3) The World War II Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
(4) Each national cemetery.
(5) The buildings containing the official office of—
(A) the Secretary of State;
(B) the Secretary of Defense;
(C) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; and
(D) the Director of the Selective Service System.
(6) Each major military installation, as designated by the Secretary of Defense.
(7) Each medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(8) Each United States Postal Service post office.
(e)Coordination With Other Display Requirement.—Display of the POW/MIA flag at the Capitol pursuant to subsection (d)(1) of this section is in addition to the display of that flag in the Rotunda of the Capitol pursuant to Senate Concurrent Resolution 5 of the 101st Congress, agreed to on February 22, 1989 (103 Stat. 2533).
(f)Display To Be in a Manner Visible to the Public.—Display of the POW/MIA flag pursuant to this section shall be in a manner designed to ensure visibility to the public.
(g)Limitation.—This section may not be construed or applied so as to require any employee to report to work solely for the purpose of providing for the display of the POW/MIA flag.
(Pub. L. 105–225, Aug. 12, 1998, 112 Stat. 1268; Pub. L. 105–354, § 1(1), Nov. 3, 1998, 112 Stat. 3238; Pub. L. 107–323, § 2(a), (b), Dec. 4, 2002
§ 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.
(b)Presentation.—The Medal of Honor Flag shall be presented as specified in sections 7285, 8307, and 9285 of title 10 and section 505 1
1 See References in Text note below.
of title 14.(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.)
§ 904. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag
(a)Designation.—The Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag championed by the Bring Our Families Home Campaign is designated as the symbol of the commitment of the United States to recognizing, and prioritizing the freedom of, citizens and lawful permanent residents of the United States held as hostages or wrongfully detained abroad.
(b)Required Display.—
(1)In general.—The Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag shall be displayed at the locations specified in paragraph (3) on the days specified in paragraph (2).
(2)Days specified.—The days specified in this paragraph are the following:
(A) U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day, March 9.
(B) Flag Day, June 14.
(C) Independence Day, July 4.
(D) Any day on which a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States—
(i) returns to the United States from being held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad; or
(ii) dies while being held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad.
(3)Locations specified.—The locations specified in this paragraph are the following:
(A) The Capitol.
(B) The White House.
(C) The buildings containing the official office of—
(i) the Secretary of State; and
(ii) the Secretary of Defense.
(c)Display To Be in a Manner Visible to the Public.—Display of the Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag pursuant to this section shall be in a manner designed to ensure visibility to the public.
(d)Limitation.—This section may not be construed or applied so as to require any employee to report to work solely for the purpose of providing for the display of the Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag.
(Added Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title XVIII, § 1804(a)(2)(A), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 686.)