The following is the flag folding ceremony that is frequently used to honor the flag on special days, like Memorial Day or Veterans Day, and is sometimes used at retirement ceremonies and funerals for veterans and active duty military members.

(Begin reading as Honor Guard or Flag Detail is coming forward).

The flag folding ceremony represents the same religious principles on which our country was originally founded. The portion of the flag denoting honor is the canton of blue containing the stars representing the states our veterans served in uniform. The canton field of blue dresses from left to right and is inverted when draped as a pall on a casket of a veteran who has served our country 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 nation's 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.

(Wait for the Honor Guard or Flag Detail to unravel and fold the flag into a quarter fold--resume reading when Honor Guard is standing ready.)

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 who gave a portion of life for the defense of our country to attain a 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 stands, 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 her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our republic.

The eighth fold is a tribute to the one who entered in to the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day, and to honor mother, for whom it flies on mother's 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 they were first born.

The eleventh fold, in the eyes of a Hebrew citizen, 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.

When the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost, reminding us of our national motto, "In God we Trust."

(Wait for the Honor Guard or Flag Detail to inspect the flag--after the inspection, resume reading.)

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.



.... so if you read this far, it's cool, right? It's used so much that it's become a significant part of our culture. Most people think that the ceremony came at the same time as the flag folding procedure. It didn't. That came later by some zealous Air Force Chaplain at the AF Academy. Just have to build you up and burst that bubble ;)

She bent down to fix the strap of those cute new heels that pinched just a little bit. That’s when she saw him. ‘How did he find me?’ she thought. Immediately she jolted up and turned the other way. Her legs ached as she hurriedly rushed to the end of the block, trying not to attract attention to herself. 300 feet … 200 … 100 … every step seemed to take her further than the one before.

As she rounded the corner, heart already hammering against her ribs, she ran. She ran as fast as she could, never once looking over her shoulder to see if he was matching her every step. She couldn’t afford to slow down long enough to be sure it was really him. With each step she remembered the guns held to her head, the baseball bat she took to the back, but worst of all, the knives. She could match each aching stride with a scar from when he took his jollies cutting and taunting her.

She could feel the blood seeping out of her ankles and dripping onto her new shoes, but she didn’t care. She just needed to get to her car. She opened the door to the parking garage and skipped the elevator, heading to the stairs. He would think she was taking the elevator. It wasn’t until she reached the second floor and honed in on her car that she realized she couldn’t breathe. Her breathing had long since abandoned her, her lungs run ragged. ‘Just a little further,’ she thought, ‘almost there.’

The rusty blue sedan was waiting for her, just as it was before she left for shopping. She thrust a key into the door and tried to turn, but it wouldn’t budge. She glanced down at her shaking hands and willed the panic to stop. Each little mistake would give him the advantage. Choosing the right key, she forced herself to take a breath and relax just long enough to put it into the lock and turn. She wrenched the door open and threw herself inside.

Leaning her head back against the seat, she concentrated on breathing and relaxing. ‘I must be seeing things again. The therapist said this would happen. He’s dead. He’s dead. He’s dead…’ She calmly started her car and leaned back once again, allowing herself to settle before the long drive.

The last thing she saw was her blood hit the windshield. She never even had a chance to scream.