Oklahoma § 72-63.11 - State flag for certain deceased national guard members

§ 72-63.11. State flag for certain deceased national guard members

and peace officers.

A. The Oklahoma Veterans Commission shall furnish an Oklahoma

state flag to drape the casket of each Oklahoma National Guard

member or Oklahoma peace officer, as defined in Section 3311 of

Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes, who dies in the line of duty,

unless the member or officer is otherwise entitled to a United

States flag. The state flag shall be a service benefit of each

Oklahoma National Guard member and Oklahoma peace officer.

B. After burial of the deceased Oklahoma National Guard member

or Oklahoma peace officer, the flag so furnished shall be given to

his or her next of kin. If no claim is made by the next of kin, the

flag may be given to a close friend or associate of the deceased

upon request by such friend or associate to the Oklahoma Veterans

Commission. If the flag is given to a close friend or associate of

the deceased, no flag shall be given to any other person on account

of the death of the Oklahoma National Guard member or Oklahoma peace

officer.

Added by Laws 1984, c. 17, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1984. Amended by Laws

2014, c. 212, § 8, eff. Nov. 1, 2014.

§72-63.11a. State flag for death of soldiers - Letter of

condolence.

A. The Office of Management and Enterprise Services shall, from

the effective date of this act, furnish an Oklahoma state flag to

any member of the United States Armed Forces, including the National

Guard or Armed Forces reserve, who is either killed in the line of

duty in a combat zone or dies of wounds inflicted in a combat zone

and who, at the time of death, was a resident of this state or whose

surviving spouse, or parents, if no surviving spouse, are residents

of this state.

B. The Governor's office shall alert the Office of Management

and Enterprise Services upon the death of any Oklahoma member of the

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 72. Soldiers and Sailors

United States Armed Forces. Prior to sending the flag to the

deceased's spouse or parents, the Office of Management and

Enterprise Services shall alert the deceased's member of the State

Senate and House of Representatives so that a letter of condolence

may be sent with the flag. The Oklahoma flag shall be mailed to the

surviving spouse, or parents if no surviving spouse, by the Office

of Management and Enterprise Services.

C. All United States flags and all Oklahoma flags purchased by

the state or political subdivisions shall be manufactured in the

United States.

Added by Laws 2010, c. 75, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2010. Amended by Laws

2012, c. 304, § 646.