---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 214"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "214"
heading: "Presentation of United States flag upon retirement"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/214"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter I — Administration and Miscellaneous Provisions"
  - "Part A — Administration"
---

# §214. Presentation of United States flag upon retirement

- (a) **Presentation of flag—** Upon the release of an officer of the commissioned corps of the [Service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) from active commissioned [service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) for retirement, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) of Health and Human [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) shall present a United States flag to the officer.
- (b) **Multiple presentations not authorized—** An officer is not eligible for presentation of a flag under [subsection (a)](#a) if the officer 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](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) for retirement.
- (c) **No cost to recipient—** The presentation of a flag under this section shall be at no cost to the recipient.

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title II, § 213, as added Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title VI, § 652(b), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 665.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 214, acts July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title II, § 213, 58 Stat. 689; Apr. 27, 1956, ch. 211, § 2(a), 70 Stat. 116, authorized allowances for uniforms, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 87–649, § 14b, Sept. 7, 1962, 76 Stat. 499. See section 415 of Title 37, Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section applicable with respect to releases from service described in section on or after Oct. 1, 1999, see section 652(d) of Pub. L. 106–65, set out as a note under section 12605 of Title 10, Armed Forces.