Upon the release of a member of the Coast Guard from active duty for retirement, the Secretary shall present a United States flag to the member.
A member is not eligible for a presentation of a flag under subsection (a) if the member 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 for retirement.
The presentation of a flag under this section shall be at no cost to the recipient.
(Added Pub. L. 105–261, div. A, title VI, § 644(d)(1), Oct. 17, 1998, 112 Stat. 2049, § 516; amended Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title VI, § 652(e), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 666; Pub. L. 107–296, title XVII, § 1704(a), Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2314; Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title X, § 1062(b)(2), Dec. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 2650; Pub. L. 112–213, title II, § 217(6), Dec. 20, 2012, 126 Stat. 1557; renumbered § 2748, Pub. L. 115–282, title I, § 116(b), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4226.)