[BLACKDOGSPORTS]

What are the rules governing burying an appropriately cased US flag with the ashes of a WW II Veteran?

[Just George]

Hello BD. They are usually very fast to respond to questions. Must be on vacation.

I don't know the US Flag Code rules on your question, but I have an opinion. Have a get together with friends and familey. Have a photo of the vet along side his ashes. Burn the flag and mix the ashes together. What a way to go!
I think it so very nice of you to consider placing a flag with him. He fought to keep this country free, as I did. To have his flag with him is the highest honor I can think of.

[sarahw]

Hi, George,

Thanks for filling in for me! I've been having some repetitive motion issues and had to take a day or so off.

From what I can tell, the flag code doesn't actually address this, but a flag should, of course, never touch the ground and shouldn't be buried if it isn't in a container of some sort.

Burying is an acceptable method of retiring flags as long as they are in a container that will not expose them to the open air and are buried so that they won't ever again be above ground. So I would thing that burying a flag in a case along with the ashes would be fine.

George's idea is very nice, too. It could make a very moving ceremony to burn the flag and combine the ashes with those of the veteran. As long as no one in the family objects to that, I don't see why it couldn't be done that way.

Thanks for asking!

Sarah