Fact check: U.S. Capitol flag, which was given to Floyd family, isn't only for veterans
The claim: Speaker Nancy Pelosi presented George Floyd’s brother with a folded American flag that is reserved for servicemen and women
Social media users are accusing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., of violating military tradition after she gifted George Floyd’s brother a folded American flag, alleging that the gesture is reserved for the relatives of fallen veterans or police officers.
“Nancy Pelosi presented George Floyd’s brother with a folded American flag that should be reserved for service men and women,” the June 16 Facebook post reads. “This is something you earn through service to our country or to your state or community.” The post, which features a picture of Pelosi with Floyd’s brother, called the gesture an “extreme insult” to first responders and to those who served in the military.
The claim follows a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill where Philonise Floyd testified and called for a change in the criminal justice system after his older brother died in Minneapolis police custody after Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into his neck for nearly nine minutes.
Pelosi tweeted in support of Philonise Floyd’s testimony, which prompted social media users and conservative bloggers to push the claim, using the photo she uploaded to social media.
“Philonise Floyd’s heart-wrenching testimony to @HouseJudiciary left its mark on us all,” Pelosi tweeted. “May this flag, which flew over the Capitol on the day of his brother’s murder, serve as a symbol of our shared commitment to securing justice for George & all victims of police violence.” The photo features Pelosi and a staff member presenting a triangle-folded flag in a glass case.
The gesture stirred controversy on Twitter and Instagram after other users also shared the claim.
More: 'Make it stop': George Floyd's brother Philonise urges Congress to 'do the right thing'
No limitations on who can receive flag
The U.S. Flag Code does not mention who can gift or receive a folded flag.
The architect of the Capitol has a Capitol Flag Program that began in 1937, after a member of Congress requested that a flag be flown over the Capitol. The program expanded to honor national holidays, special events and work by schools and civic organizations.
According to the site, over 100,000 requests are filled per year; flags are flown daily, and members of Congress can make requests for the flags.
The House Members’ Congressional Handbook further states that members may use flags as official gifts.
“U.S. flags flown over the Capitol for official presentation as a gift, including the flag flying fee are reimbursable,” the handbook states. “Such flags must be for the personal use or display by the recipient (examples many include, but are not limited to: flags presented at a building dedication for which the Member secured official funding, a flag presented to the family of a fallen soldier, flags presented for exceptional public distinction, etc.).”
Fact check: Police killed more unarmed Black men in 2019 than conservative activist claimed
Other cases of flag gifting
Drew Hammill, Pelosi's deputy chief of staff, confirmed to USA TODAY via phone that members of Congress routinely request flags through the Capitol Flag Program and that the claim in the post is not true.
In 2016, then-Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Fla., gifted Citrus Ridge: A Civics Academy in Davenport a flag after the school's grand opening ceremony, The Ledger reported.
Similarly, in 2017, Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, delivered two flags to two new schools in his district after the schools' grand opening, KDH News reported.
"Anytime a new school opens in Williams' congressional district, Nicholas said the congressman intends to donate a flag flown over the Capitol building," the article states. "Any school, he said, can request one."
According to the Fallen Heroes Flag Act of 2016, members of Congress are allowed to gift flags to law enforcement officers and other first responders.
"This bill allows the Representative or Senator of an immediate family member of a deceased firefighter, law enforcement officer, member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew, or public safety officer who died in the line of duty to give the family, on request, a Capitol-flown flag, together with a certificate, signed by the official providing the flag," the bill text reads.
Fact check: Southern Dems held up 1964 Civil Rights Act, set filibuster record at 60 days
Our rating: Partly false
While it is true that Pelosi presented George Floyd’s brother with a folded flag on the day of his House testimony, it is false to say that folded flags are reserved exclusively for veterans. It is common for members of Congress to present flags as gifts and there is no evidence to support the assertion that the flag is only reserved for fallen veterans. We rate this claim as PARTLY FALSE because some of it is not supported by our research.
Our fact-check sources:
Architect of the Capitol, Capitol Flag Program
Committee on House Administration, House Members Congressional Handbook
Factcheck.org, "Gifting a Folded Flag Isn’t ‘Only For Fallen Veterans’"
KDH News, "'This gift represents our country': Flags flown at U.S. Capitol arrive in Killeen"
Phone Interview with Drew Hammill, deputy chief of staff to House Speaker Pelosi
Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here.
Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: Capitol flag given to Floyd family isn't only for veterans
