Significance of how a flag is folded at a military funeral

[Thomas Macaluso]

To understand what the flag draped coffin really means...... Here is how to understand the flag that laid upon it and is surrendered to so many widows and widowers.



Do you know that at military funerals, the 21-gun salute stands for the sum of the numbers in the year 1776?



my tournament buddy set me this I thought it was worth sharing .



Have you ever noticed the honor guard pays meticulous attention to correctly folding the United States of America Flag 13 times? You probably thought it was to symbolize the original 13 colonies, but we learn something new every day!



The 1st fold of the flag is a symbol of life.





The 2nd fold is a symbol of the belief in eternal life.







The 3rd 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 4th fold represents the weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in time of war for His divine guidance.





The 5th fold is a tribute to the 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 6th 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 7th fold is a tribute to its Armed Forces, 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 8th 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.!





The 9th fold is a tribute to womanhood, and Mothers. For it has been through their faith, their love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this 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 Christians eyes, God the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.





The 13th fold, or when the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost reminding them of their nations 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 them the rights, privileges and freedoms they enjoy today.



There are some traditions and ways of doing things that have deep meaning. In the future, you'll see flags folded and now you will know why.



Share this with the children you love and all others who love what is referred to, the symbol of "Liberty and Freedom."







MAYBE THE SUPREME COURT SHOULD READ THIS EXPLANATION BEFORE THEY RENDER THEIR DECISION ON THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. FORWARD IT; MAYBE SOMEONE WITH THE NECESSARY POWER, OR POLITICAL AND FINANCIAL INFLUENCE, WILL GET IT TO THEM.



IN THE MEANTIME, MAY GOD PROTECT



US ALWAYS

 

[TrepMan]

Tom - I'm still researching all of this, but at least the 21 gun salute related to 1776 is FALSE:



http://www.snopes.com/military/21gun.htm



Update - Seems most of the whole thing is made up:



http://www.snopes.com/military/flagfold.htm

 

[Bruce Freeman]

Not to start a dispute, but what or who makes snopes.com right? I just wonder who they are and when or how they became the "truth". I am not saying anything posted here for them is wrong. I just don't know? I don't go to many other sites and I just want to understand what makes them the goto site for the facts.



BF

 

[TrepMan]

Bruce - Good question, as Brad said never trust anything you see on the Internet unless you verify it with multiple sources. From a quick bit of websearching and listening to a few national talkshows (Clark Howard for instance) point to snopes.com and urbanlegend.com as places to check facts.



Found this in Wikipedia:



The Urban Legends Reference Pages, also known as snopes.com, is a Web site dedicated to determining the truth about many urban legends, Internet rumors and other such stories of uncertain or questionable origin. Snopes is run by Barbara and David Mikkelson, a California couple.

 

[Bill Hamilton]

Bruce et al - If you ever have any questions about the validity of information on-line just give Al Gore a call since he invented the Internet and would know everything there is.

 

[Marty Klein]

Well then, clearly Snopes is run by un-American communists [and oh by the way, they're from Califunkia]. While it is true that the Flag Code does not attach this meaning to the flag's folds, many organizations accept them as a manner to define and provide meaning to the simple, yet honorable, act of folding the flag whether to honor a fallen Soldier or simply putting it away for the night.

 

[Bill Hamilton]

Brad - :lol::lol::lol:

 

[Tom Jones]

I talked to Al Bore just a minute ago.... He said that they fold the flag to protect it from the heat caused by global warming. The stars showing on the flag after it is folded represent nighttime, when it's the best time for global cooling to occur.



Tom

 

[Greg Meyer]

I don't know about Tom's views on "spontaneous human combustion, but, presonally it burns me up...

 

[Steve Rizza]

Not to start a dispute, but what or who makes snopes.com right?

It may be just an internet rumor that they are always right. I'll check it out on Snopes and get back to ya.....







Steve

 

[Jeff Griffeth]

http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/faq/salute.htm



Source: Headquarters, Military District of Washington, FACT SHEET: GUN SALUTES, May 1969.

 

[TIM MARKING]

What is the origin of the 21-gun salute?

The use of gun salutes for military occasions is traced to early warriors who demonstrated their peaceful intentions by placing their weapons in a position that rendered them ineffective. Apparently this custom was universal, with the specific act varying with time and place, depending on the weapons being used. A North African tribe, for example, trailed the points of their spears on the ground to indicate that they did not mean to be hostile.



The tradition of rendering a salute by cannon originated in the 14th century as firearms and cannons came into use. Since these early devices contained only one projectile, discharging them once rendered them ineffective. Originally warships fired seven-gun salutes--the number seven probably selected because of its astrological and Biblical significance. Seven planets had been identified and the phases of the moon changed every seven days. The Bible states that God rested on the seventh day after Creation, that every seventh year was sabbatical and that the seven times seventh year ushered in the Jubilee year.



Land batteries, having a greater supply of gunpowder, were able to fire three guns for every shot fired afloat, hence the salute by shore batteries was 21 guns. The multiple of three probably was chosen because of the mystical significance of the number three in many ancient civilizations. Early gunpowder, composed mainly of sodium nitrate, spoiled easily at sea, but could be kept cooler and drier in land magazines. When potassium nitrate improved the quality of gunpowder, ships at sea adopted the salute of 21 guns.



The 21-gun salute became the highest honor a nation rendered. Varying customs among the maritime powers led to confusion in saluting and return of salutes. Great Britain, the world's preeminent seapower in the 18th and 19th centuries, compelled weaker nations to salute first, and for a time monarchies received more guns than did republics. Eventually, by agreement, the international salute was established at 21 guns, although the United States did not agree on this procedure until August 1875.



The gun salute system of the United States has changed considerably over the years. In 1810, the "national salute" was defined by the War Department as equal to the number of states in the Union--at that time 17. This salute was fired by all U.S. military installations at 1:00 p.m. (later at noon) on Independence Day. The President also received a salute equal to the number of states whenever he visited a military installation.



In 1842, the Presidential salute was formally established at 21 guns. In 1890, regulations designated the "national salute" as 21 guns and redesignated the traditional Independence Day salute, the "Salute to the Union," equal to the number of states. Fifty guns are also fired on all military installations equipped to do so at the close of the day of the funeral of a President, ex-President, or President-elect.



Today the national salute of 21 guns is fired in honor of a national flag, the sovereign or chief of state of a foreign nation, a member of a reigning royal family, and the President, ex-President and President-elect of the United States. It is also fired at noon of the day of the funeral of a President, ex-President, or President-elect.



Gun salutes are also rendered to other military and civilian leaders of this and other nations. The number of guns is based on their protocol rank. These salutes are always in odd numbers.



Source: Headquarters, Military District of Washington, FACT SHEET: GUN SALUTES, May 1969.

 

[TIM MARKING]

The other part about the flag is true. 20 year navy man here.