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The Two Flags Flown Over the Capitol Go to the Family

When the governor orders the national and state flags to half-staff for an Iowa servicemember who died on active duty, the office of the governor presents the two flags that flew over the state capitol to the surviving spouse — or, where there is no surviving spouse, to another member of the immediate family. The department carries the cost of the flags.

Verified August 23, 2026

What this benefit is

When the governor orders the national and state flags to half-staff for an Iowa servicemember who died on active duty, the office of the governor presents the two flags that flew over the state capitol to the surviving spouse — or, where there is no surviving spouse, to another member of the immediate family. The department carries the cost of the flags.

What it's worth: The two capitol flags, presented to the family at the department’s cost

  • No sum is claimed. The statute puts the cost of the flags on the department, so the family is not billed, but the thing itself is not money.
  • Two flags are presented, not one: the national flag and the state flag that were flown over the state capitol.

Who is entitled to it

  • The section presents the flags to the surviving spouse, or to the immediate family.
  • You are in this state.

Not sure whether that describes you?

Answer a few questions about this benefit specifically — we only ask what this one actually depends on, and we stop as soon as we know.

How to claim it

Deadline: Follows the half-staff proclamation
  1. 1The trigger is the proclamation, not the funeral. Subsection 2 is written around the governor issuing a proclamation for the national and state flags to be flown at half-staff in recognition of the death.
  2. 2The definition is narrower than "veteran" and it is worth reading before asking. Subsection 1 reaches a person who was a RESIDENT of this state and a member of the national guard, the reserve, or a regular component of the armed forces AT THE TIME OF DEATH, and subsection 2 adds that the death occurred while serving on active duty.
  3. 3If there is no surviving spouse the flags do not go back on a shelf — the section directs that the two flags be presented to another individual who is part of the member’s immediate family.
  4. 4Ask the county commission of veteran affairs to make the approach if the family would rather not deal with the governor’s office directly; the commission’s statutory job under Iowa Code §35B.6 includes informing families of state laws enacted for their benefit.
  5. 5This is separate from the burial flag the federal VA provides, and from the honours detail. Receiving one does not affect the others.
Form
No prescribed form — the presentation is made by the office of the governor
File with
Office of the Governor, with the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs carrying the cost
No renewal
Once granted it does not need renewing.
Worth knowingThe residency test bites at the moment of death, not at enlistment. A member who grew up in the state but was a resident elsewhere when they died is outside the section as written.

Sources

This finder provides an informational match, not a government eligibility determination. The responsible agency decides your application.