American flag fold tradition explained

American flag fold tradition explained by Peter Jakey– Managing Editor

Although spring doesn’t end until June 20, many people consider Memorial Day (May 28) to be the real start of summer. To prove it, record numbers of people will be heating up the grill, catching the biggest movies, and hitting the road. But Memorial Day has the word “memorial” in it for a reason, and the American flag has an important connection to the holiday, which was once called Decoration Day. ?For any type of activity on Memorial Day, the flag is everywhere,? said Army veteran Nick Filipiak. ?Go down and take a look at the cemetery on Memorial Day,? he said. ?Stand there and look for a few minutes and look at all the flags that are out there. You?ll realize that all those people served the United States for me ? and there are a lot of them.?

THE FLAG IS part of nearly every funeral of a veteran. It is draped across the casket of each veteran who served the country. ?Because that flag is either folded at every funeral for a veteran or is draped on his casket, it has a direct correlation,? said Richard Wright, VFW Post 607 commander. ?It represents what the veteran served the country for. It is a direct symbol.? The honor guard pays meticulous attention to correctly folding the American flag 13 times. Many people believe it is to only symbolize the original 13 colonies, but that is not the case. The flag folding ceremony described by the Uniformed Services is a ?dramatic and uplifting way to honor the flag on special days, like Memorial Day or Veterans Day?The flag folding ceremony represents the same religious principles on which our country was originally founded.?

?EVERY FOLD of the flag has a significance,? said Wright.

? The first fold is a symbol of life.

? The second fold is a symbol of the belief of eternal life.

? The third fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veterans departing the ranks who gave a portion of their lives for the defense of the country to attain peace throughout the world.

? The fourth fold represents the weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in time of war for His divine guidance.

? The fifth fold is a tribute to the country, 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 people?s hearts lie. It is with their heart that they Pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

? The seventh fold is a tribute to its Armed Services, for it is through the Armed Forces that they protect their country, and their flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of their republic.

? The eighth fold is a tribute to the one who entered into the valley of the shadow of death, that countrymen might see the light of day.

? The ninth fold is a tribute to womanhood, and mothers. For it has been through faith, their love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made thi

s country great has been molded.

? The 10th fold is a tribute to the father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of their country since they were first born.

? The 11th fold represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon and glorifies in the Hebrews? eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

? The 12th fold represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in the Christian eyes, God the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.

? The 13th fold, or when the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost as a reminder of the nation?s motto, ?In God We Trust.?

After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat. While the Ladies Auxiliary is not involved in flag folding rituals, the organization promotes ways to ?honor and promote the respect of the flag. They do a lot of educating the younger kids on what the significance of the flag is, and what the folds mean,? said Wright. In Rogers City, Memorial Day will be observed shortly after 10 a.m. at the courthouse, along with Memorial Park and Mt. Calvary cemeteries. Local residences are encouraged to pay their respects to the veterans who died fighting for this country and the symbol of ?Liberty and Freedom?, the United States Flag.

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