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![[Flag of the Department of Veterans Affairs]](../images/u/us_dva.gif)
image by Joe McMillan, 21 December 2001
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The flag of the Department of Veterans Affairs has a blue field, upon which the seal of the Department appears on both sides of the flag. There are two sizes specified, Class 1 - nylon, 4 feet 4 inches on the hoist and 5 foot 6 inches on the fly, excluding heading and fringe. There is a 2 1/2 inch fringe on the three free sides. Class 2 - nylon, 3 feet (hoist) by 5 feet (fly).
Departmental seal: An American eagle clutching a cord in its talons. The cord binds a 13 star U.S. flag and a 50 star U.S. flag. Above the eagle is a pentagon formed of stars, one with a point down. The words Department of Veterans Affairs and United States of America surround the eagle, stars and flags. The exterior circle of the seal is a rope.
Phil Nelson, 24 September 1998
The Department of Veterans Affairs, the newest of the US cabinet departments, was established on 15 March 1989 from the former Veterans Administration, which dated to 1930 but with roots going back well before that.
The seal of the DVA is light blue with an American bald eagle clutching two crossed American flags, one 13-star flag in the "Betsy Ross" pattern and the other the modern 50-star flag. Above the eagle's head are five gold stars, representing the five armed services.
Correspondence from the DVA in the files of the Army Institute of Heraldry, dated 20 November 1991, states that the Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs had approved the general concept of personal flags for department officials, and another letter of 24 January 1992 confirms the following designs, but I have seen nothing to indicate promulgation of these
patterns within the DVA itself. They disagree to some extent with the sheet of personal flags that Jack Kowalski sent me, so he may have other information.
All flags are 3 x 4 feet with gold (yellow) fringe, and all show the DVA seal 24 inches in diameter on the center of the flag.
Joe McMillan, 20 December 2001
The departmental flag is Old Glory Blue with gold fringe. The seal is specified as 24" for both authorized indoor sizes 52x66" and 3x4' (3x5' was more commonly made). Odd that they both have the same size, but I believe it was done to keep the cost down and to allow for multihead embroidery of the design by the winning contractor manufacturer. A few VA hospitals also fly outdoor flags in 3x5' or 5x8'. I believe the 5x8' flags had 30" printed seals. The indoor flags had a
total double seal and the outdoor had a single/reverse seal.
The size of the seal is specified in the TIOH drawings which must be 5-1-770 or so. I remember the 52x66" to have either a 30" or 32" high design. Very attractively embroidered. During Togo West's tenure as Secretary the flags were also made in a 36"x68-3/8" size with approximately 21" high design. I think the stars were 6" and 4" respectively, with the diagonally divided Under-Secretary's flag having slightly larger stars. These flags were produced by machine embroidery with the back side being reversed - as if printed through. The departmental flag used to sell on a VA contract for just under $700, but I imagine the price as gone up slightly. The secretary's flag had roughly 350,000 stitches and was in the $900 - $1200 range.
John Niggley, 22 December 2001
38 Code of Federal Regulations 1.9 (d) explains the elements of the seal
shown on all these flags as standing for:
eagle - eternal
vigilance of all veterans
five stars - branches of the
military service
flags - history of the nation
gold cord binding the flagstaffs together - those fallen in defense of liberty
38 CFR 1.9(e) describes the department's distinguishing flag and gives two
sizes for it: 52 x 66 inches for indoor display and 3 x 5 feet for outdoor
hoisting.
Joe McMillan, 28 December 2001
![[Flag of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs]](../images/u/us_secva.gif)
by Joe McMillan, 21 December 2001
Dark blue, one white star in each corner (Jack Kowalski's chart shows yellow
stars). Dark blue and gold cord and tassels.
Joe McMillan, 21 December 2001
![[Flag of the Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs]](../images/u/us_dsva.gif)
by Joe McMillan, 21 December 2001
Scarlet, one white star in each corner (Jack shows no stars). Scarlet and gold
cord and tassels.
Joe McMillan, 21 December 2001
![[Flag of the Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs]](../images/u/us_usva.gif)
by Joe McMillan, 21 December 2001
Under Secretaries of Veterans Affairs and officials of equivalent rank - Divided from upper hoist to lower fly, scarlet over white, with four stars arranged in a line from lower hoist to upper fly, scarlet on white and white on scarlet.
Scarlet and gold cord and tassels.
Joe McMillan, 21 December 2001
![[Flag of the Assistant Secretary/Director of National Cemetery System]](../images/u/us_vadnc.gif)
image by Joe McMillan, 21 December 2001
Light blue, one white star in each corner. Light blue and gold cord and tassels.
Joe McMillan, 21 December 2001
image by Joe McMillan, 21 December 2001
White, one light blue star in each corner. (Jack shows no stars.) Light blue and white cord and tassels.
Joe McMillan, 21 December 2001
Here are the rules regarding the provision of burial flags by the U. S. Department of Veterans' Affairs for those men and women who served in the United States Armed Forces at some time during their lives:
www.cem.va.gov/cem/bbene/bflags.asp
Ron Lahav, 22 November 2008