Miscellaneous Ceremony

FLAG FOLDING EXPLAINED

"Two of us this vigil keep, mid summer rains and winter snow, month by month and year by year, as seasons come and seasons go. Remember, as you pass my grave, I am not dead. I cannot die. So long as you will keep the faith; we live- my flag and I. Pity, no; envy me my place against the morning sky, so long as you will guard us well we live- My flag and I."

The flag folding ceremony represents the same religious principles on which our country was originally founded.

This portion of the flag denoting honor is the canton of blue containing the stars which represent the states our veterans served while in uniform. The canton field of blue dresses from left to right and only is inverted when draped as a pall an a casket of a veteran who has served our country honorably in uniform.

In the evening, in the armed forces of the United States, at the ceremony of retreat after taps have been sounded, the flag is lowered and folded in a triangle fold and kept under watch throughout the night as a tribute to our nation's honored dead. The next morning it is brought out at the ceremony of reveille and 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. The third fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veteran departing our ranks who gave a portion of life for the defense of our country to attain peace throughout the world, not to have been in vain and never to be forgotten.

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 the immortal Stephen Decatur, "Our country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right, but it is our country, right or wrong."

The sixth fold is where our hearts lie - and it is with our hearts that we pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, on nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

The seventh fold is a tribute to our armed forces, for it is through these same armed forces that we protect our country and our flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of out 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 this fold is also made to honor Mother, for whom it flies on Mother's Day.

The ninth fold is a tribute to Father, for he too has given of his sons for the defense of our country since she was first born.

We fold from the stripes toward the stars because the stripes represent the 13 original colonies that founded our Republic and they are now embodied in the 50 sovereign states represented by the stars. For that reason, the stars cover the stripes on the folded flag.

The eleventh fold is for the Hebrew citizens. This represents the lower portion of the Seal of King David and King Solomon and glorifies in their eyes the god of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.

The twelfth fold is for the Christian citizens. This represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies in their eyes God the Father, God the Son and god the Holy Spirit.

When the flag is completed folded, the stars are uppermost which reminds 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 sailor and marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones. They, followed by their comrades and shipmates in the armed forces of the United States, have preserved for us the rights, privileges and freedom which we are enjoying today.