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1. Bring the striped half up over the blue
field.
2. Then fold it in half again.
3. Bring the lower striped corner to the
upper edge forming a triangle.
4. Then fold the upper point in to form
another triangle. Continue
until the entire length of the flag is folded.
5. When you get near the end - nothing but
the blue field showing -
tuck the last bit into the other folds to secure it.
When the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost,
reminding us of our national motto, “In God We Trust.”
After the flag is completely folded and tucked in,
it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat, ever reminding us of the
soldiers who served under General George Washington and the sailors and
marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones who were followed by
their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States,
preserving for us the rights, privileges, and freedoms we enjoy today.
Meaning of the Folding the American Flag
The flag folding ceremony represents the same religious principles on
which our great country was originally founded.
The portion of the flag denoting honor is the canton of blue containing
the stars representing states our veterans served in uniform. The canton
field of blue dresses from left to right and is inverted only when
draped as a pall on the casket of a veteran who has served our country
honorably in uniform.
In the Armed Forces of the United States, at the ceremony of retreat,
the flag is lowered, folded in a triangle fold and kept under watch
throughout the night as a tribute to our nations honored dead. The next
morning it is brought out and, at the ceremony of reveille, run aloft as
a symbol of our belief in the resurrection of the body.
The first fold of our flag is a symbol of
life.
The second fold is a symbol of our belief
in the eternal life.
The third fold is made in honor and
remembrance of the veteran departing our ranks and who gave a portion of
life for the defense of our country to attain peace throughout the
world.
The fourth fold represents our weaker
nature; for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn
in times of peace as well as in times of war for His divine guidance.
The fifth fold is a tribute to our country,
for in the words of Stephen Decatur, “Our country, in dealing with other
countries, may she always be right, but it is still our country, right
or wrong.”
The sixth fold is for where our hearts lie.
It is with our heart that we pledge allegiance to the flag of the United
States of America, and to the republic for which it stand, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
The seventh fold is a tribute to our Armed
Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that we protect our country
and our flag against all enemies, whether they be found within or
without the boundaries of our republic.
The eighth fold is a tribute to the one who
entered into the valley of the shadow of death, that we
might see the light of day, and to honor our mother, for whom it flies
on Mothers Day.
The ninth fold is a tribute to womanhood,
for it has been through their faith, love, loyalty and devotion that the
character of the men and women who have made this country great have
been molded.
The tenth fold is a tribute to father, for
he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of our country
since he or she was first born.
The eleventh fold, in the eyes of Hebrew
citizens, represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and
King Solomon and glorifies, in their eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob.
The twelfth fold, in the eyes of a
Christian citizen, represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in
their eyes, God the Father, the Son and Holy Ghost.
Official or not, the meanings
stated above has gained status as the traditional meaning of the folds
and is found in many governmental and military manuals.
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