Thanks for the info. The one point during my dad’s funeral when my mom burst into open tears was when the commander of the local VFW honor guard handed her his flag. And he just maintained radio gear in the Air Force for a hitch.
The honor guard for a veteran’s funeral is special, while not a veteran myself, I’ve attended many veterans’ funerals, including one for a friend KIA, and I have a passing understanding of the protocols. However, any person can request a flag for their funeral, whether or not a veteran.
A non-veteran would not receive the free flag and graveside honor guard services from the designated branch.