She’s a Grand Old Flag

Education 3 Minutes

The portion of the flag denoting honor is the canton of blue containing the stars representing states our veterans served in uniform. The field of blue dresses from left to right and is inverted only when draped as a funeral cloth over the casket of a veteran who has served our country honorably in uniform. In the U.S. Armed Forces, at the ceremony of retreat, the flag is lowered, folded in a triangle and kept under watch throughout the night as a tribute to our nation’s honored dead. The next morning it is brought out and, at a ceremony of reveille, flown high as a symbol of belief in the resurrection of the body.

Meaning Behind the 13 Folds

  1. The first fold of our flag is a symbol of life.
  2. The second fold is a symbol of our belief in eternal life.
  3. The third fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veteran departing our ranks, and who gave a portion of his or her life for the defense of our country to attain peace throughout the world.
  4. The fourth fold represents our weaker nature; as American citizens trusting in God, it is Him we turn to in times of peace, as well as in times of war, for His divine guidance.
  5. The fifth fold is a tribute to our 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.”
  6. 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 stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
  7. 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.
  8. 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 Mother’s Day.
  9. The ninth fold is a tribute to womanhood. It has been through their faith, love, loyalty and devotion that has molded the character of the men and women who have made this country great.
  10. The 10th fold is a tribute to father, who has also given his sons and daughters for the defense of our country since he or she was first born.
  11. The 11th fold represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon and glorifies the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
  12. The 12th fold represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies God the Father, the Son and Holy Ghost.
  13. The 13th and last fold, when the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost, reminding us of our national motto, “In God We Trust.”

After the Folding Ceremony

After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it has the appearance of a cocked hat, ever reminding us of the soldiers who served under Gen. George Washington and the sailors and Marines who served under Capt. John Paul Jones and were followed by their comrades and shipmates in the U.S. Armed Forces, preserving for us the rights, privileges and freedoms we enjoy today.

The source and the date of origin of this Flag Folding Procedure is unknown. However, some sources attribute it to the Gold Star Mothers of America while others to an Air Force chaplain stationed at the United States Air Force Academy. Some sources also indicate that the 13 folds are a nod to the original first 13 colonies. The flag folding ceremony is provided as a patriotic service.

VA Policy on Flag-Folding Recitation of “13-Fold” Ceremony

To ensure burial services at the 143 national cemeteries operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs reflect the wishes of veterans and their families, VA officials have clarified the department’s policy about recitations made while the U.S. flag is folded at the grave site of a veteran.

“Honoring the burial wishes of veterans is one of the highest commitments for the men and women of VA,” said William F. Tuerk, VA’s undersecretary for Memorial Affairs. “A family may request the recitation of words to accompany the meaningful presentation of the American flag as we honor the dedication and sacrifice of their loved ones.”

Traditional grave site military funeral honors include the silent folding and presentation of a U.S. flag, three rifle volleys and the playing of “Taps.”

Source: Military.com

{Pat’s Note: Tomorrow, June 14th is Flag Day, but it’s also my favorite President’s birthday!}

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Published by pat frederick

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140 thoughts on “She’s a Grand Old Flag”


  3. “The world’s largest potato masher is located at the Food + Farm Exploration Center in Plover, WI. along I-39. That motherfucker would absolutely jam up the kitchen drawer.”


    “It’s almost as if there’s too many of the now to even consider sending them back. Who’s paying the tab for all these fuckin’ freeloaders? YOU ARE. Read this article and try not to puke. It’s fuckin’ insanity what’s going on: https://nypost.com/2023/06/12/two-mega-shelters-opening-on-upper-west-side-as-nyc-migrant-tally-tops-74000-arrivals/

    Liked by 1 person

  5. the peril of letting the shynese into your companies…
    FTA
    As Samsung Electronics Co. endeavors to cement its leadership in the semiconductor market, so its competitors are pulling out all the stops to topple the company’s decades-long dominance.
    The latest case of alleged Samsung technology outflows by a former Samsung executive highlights the growing threat facing South Korea’s largest company amid the intensifying technology war.

    On Monday, the Public Prosecutors Office in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, said it has arrested and indicted a former executive of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix Inc. on charges of stealing Samsung’s trade secrets to build a copycat semiconductor plant in China.

    The document leaks with confidential data are estimated to be worth up to several billions of dollars of damage to Samsung Electronics, headquartered in the city of Suwon.

    The factory in Chengdu, based on Samsung’s proprietary designs and process layouts, completed construction only on the R&D portion last year. It is located just 1.5 kilometers from Samsung Electronics’ factory in the same city in China’s Sichuan province.

    https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kedglobal.com%2Fkorean-chipmakers%2FnewsView%2Fked202306130017

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  10. Liked by 1 person

  11. Another successful experiment…I was concerned about the Vincas that I planted in front of my porch…I wasn’t sure they would survive. But they are all blooming now and the bottoms of the plants are starting to fill in again w/new growth! Yeah!!!

    Liked by 2 people

  15. FILLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    OMG!!!
    I saw that the oriole feeder needed more jelly, so i took the jar out with me and a spoon to fill it up. I scooped out a spoonful and was putting it into the feeder when an oriole LANDED ON MY HAND and ate some of the jelly from the spoon!!!!!!!
    i didn’t want to move or breathe but then he flew off into the tree.

    Liked by 2 people

  16. Liked by 1 person

  17. Liked by 1 person

  22. smith lied in indictment
    FTA
    The Justice Department’s special counsel team led by Jack Smith lied in the 37-count indictment filed last week against former president and GOP 2024 frontrunner Donald Trump.

    Page 45 of the 49-page document is a form that prosecutors are required to submit with the indictment. Question number eight asks, “Does this case relate to a previously filed matter in this District Court.” If yes, the questionnaire continues, who was the judge?

    The correct answer of course is yes. In August, Trump brought a suit in the southern district of Florida to request a special master to review the classified documents seized by the FBI in its raid on his Florida home, Mar-a-Lago.

    Nevertheless, under the signature of Assistant Special Counsel Jay Bratt, the Smith team answered no — even though the DOJ’s classified documents case is directly related to Trump’s suit.

    “They just flat-out checked the ‘no’ box,” says former Trump administration senior official Kash Patel. The one-time federal public defender and federal prosecutor explains that “the indictment requires information for the district court that the prosecutor must be helpful on to facilitate case flow, like asking if there’s a related case. And the rules says that a related case must go the same judge.”

    The judge in the previous case was Aileen Cannon. Appointed to the bench by Trump in 2020, she ordered the DOJ to stop its review of the seized documents and appointed the special master that the former President requested.

    Despite an appellate court overturning her decision, “they’re so desperate to avoid Judge Cannon, they lied on the form,” says Patel. “They went forum shopping for a jurisdiction favorable to their case.”

    x
    June 13, 2023 3:21 pm

    Special Counsel Lied in Trump Indictment

    https://leesmith.locals.com/upost/4145393/special-counsel-lied-in-trump-indictment

    Liked by 1 person

  28. I am adding a short daily prayer to the board. I would invite each of you, if you wish, to also add one or maybe two of your own liking. I do not want to stifle anyone but please limit yourself to one or two religious postings. here’s one I found that I liked.

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  37. I can comment here – but that’s all. Each and every time I comment, I have to sign in to WP with user name and password. I can’t like or read notifications. I’m signed in to WP, and get notifications and can like at Marica’s.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. gees I’m sorry. we haven’t changed anything…maybe its a setting somewhere but I am not computer savvy. maybe Filly will have an idea when she signs on…???

      Liked by 1 person

        1. it might be a privacy setting?
          when i log in, in the morning I have to “allow” a pop up window for my site. (I have do not allow pop ups at all because they get annoying). so every morning, I have to allow my site to use a pop up which maybe verifies something?
          in my firefox settings there is a place I can manage pop ups and I could insert the site’s website and it would automatically do it, but I just never think to do it.

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  38. Strange – with my new computer – I can comment here – but that’s all.

    Each and every time I comment, I have to sign in to WP with user name and password. I can’t like or read notifications. I’m signed in to WP, and get notifications and can like at Marica’s.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I know I sign into wp to have the “comments” section open exclusively, then i open another tab of the actual log to post and read there. i have to sign into the blog separately don’t know why…

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