Care and Disposition of Remains - Army Publishing Directorate ...

14–4. Reimbursement of memorial service expenses
a. The PADD of those declared dead and determined to be nonrecoverable after 1 January 1961 may be reimbursed
for expenses incurred in conducting a memorial service. Reimbursement allowance will not exceed the amount actually
expended; under no circumstances will payment exceed the maximum interment allowance in paragraph 13–9. A claim
for reimbursement will be allowed only if presented within 2 years after the PADD is officially notified that the person
is dead.
b. The PADD will submit his or her claim for processing and payment. The claim will be submitted on a DD Form
1375 with the memorial service contract and GPL and any other receipts for expenditures attached.
Chapter 15
Interment flag
15–1. Persons authorized an interment flag
Interment flags and flag cases are provided by the Army for Regular Army soldiers, retirees and veterans who are
continuously hospitalized as an inpatient from the date of retirement or discharged until the date of death (retired and
retained or discharged and retained), veterans who are Medal of Honor recipients, cadets assigned to the United States
Military Academy at West Point, cadets of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) who are entitled to mortuary
benefits, Reserve and National Guard soldiers who are entitled to mortuary benefits, applicants for enlistment, and
Department of the Army civilian employees who die during contingency operations (see chap 2 for details when
mortuary benefits are authorized). Hardwood flag cases are not authorized for presentation at interments and memorial
services for active duty soldiers held prior to 1 October 1993 or civilian employees who die while deployed in support
of a military contingency operation prior to 1 October 1994.
15–2. Interment flag for deceased Reservists not authorized mortuary benefits
a. Interment flag with case. An interment flag with case is authorized at Government expense per 10 USC 1482f for
issuance to the PADD of a soldier of the Reserve components who dies under honorable conditions and who is not
covered under table 2–1 if, at the time of that soldier’s death, he or she—
(1) Was a soldier of the Ready Reserve (of either the Army National Guard (ARNG) or USAR) or
(2) Had performed at least 20 years of service computed under section 1332, title 10, United States Code, and was
not yet entitled to receive retired pay under section 1331, title 10, United States Code.
b. Determining eligibility of Reservists.
(1) ARNG. The installation commander at the place of death or the State adjutant general will determine eligibility
of deceased soldiers of the ARNG under criteria in a above.
(2) USAR. The installation commander at the place of death, the Commanding General, Forces Command or the
Commanding General, U.S. Army Reserve Personnel Command (AR–PERCEN), as appropriate, will determine eligibility
of deceased soldiers of the USAR under criteria in a above.
c. Flag expenses. Expenses for presentation or issuance of the flag for eligible deceased soldiers other than those
cited in table 2–1 will be paid from the appropriations of the ARNG or USAR.
d. Stocking and requisitioning flags. Stocking and requisitioning flags.
(1) ARNG. The USPFO will maintain a minimum stock of flags to be issued as required.
(2) USAR. Flags for USAR deceased will be requisitioned on manually prepared, unfunded requisitions; they will be
mailed to the Defense Personnel Support Center, 2800 South 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19101.
e. Responsibility for issuing flag. The flag will be issued or mailed by the commander designated in b above on
request of the PADD.
15–3. Eligible interment flag and flag case recipients
a. Eligible interment flag and flag case recipients are established by 10 USC 1482. The statute authorizes an
interment flag and flag case to be presented to the PADD and the decedent’s parents when they are not the PADD. The
statute defines parents as a natural parent, a stepparent, a parent by adoption or a person who stood for a period of not
less than one year before the death of the decedent in loco parentis. The statute further gives precedence to receive a
flag to the persons who exercised a parental relationship at the time of, or most nearly before, the time of death.
b. If the decedent’s parents are married, they are authorized only one interment flag and flag case. If the decedent’s
parents are legally separated or divorced, each parent is authorized an interment flag and flag case.
c. Other relatives of the soldier, to include the soldier’s brothers and sisters, children, and former spouses and
friends are not authorized an interment flag or flag case unless determined to be the PADD. As recipients are
established by Federal statute, exceptions to present flags and flag case to other persons cannot be approved.
AR 638–2 • 22 December 2000
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