American Flag on the Casket of a Firefighter?
By Cheryl Rings
Q: Is it appropriate to cover a casket with an American Flag for a deceased firefighter? Line of duty and not line of duty.
A: The answer to your question isn’t a simple one. If the firefighter was also a military member then the answer is always yes. I found an article online talking about funeral procedures for firefighters and is seems that different states handle things differently. Here’s the link to that article.
On page 13 it says “(Some states have passed a Firefighters’ Memorial Flag
Act to honor firefighters who have died in the line-of-duty and have
issued a directive prescribing standards and requirements for the use,
display, distribution, and return of the Firefighters’ Memorial Flag.
Consult your state firefighter’s association or local officials to see if this
applies in your jurisdiction.”
We do offer a Fireman’s Casket Drape that can be used in place of an American Flag if your state doesn’t require a specific memorial flag or the American Flag for the firefighters that you are honoring.
If you have any flag or flagpole related questions, please contact Gettysburg Flag Works and we will do our best to get your accurate answers. Have a banner day!