|
|
FOLDING THE FLAG
|
| The custom of folding the United States Flag into the
shape of a triangle bestows unique honor and respect
upon the Flag. National Flag Foundation, the Naval
Library, the Institute of Heraldry and several other
sources have searched for documentation on flag
folding, but detailed information regarding its origin
remains unknown. NFF and Dr. Harold Langley, former
curator at the Smithsonian Institution, theorize
that the practice probably developed during World
War I when patriotism was high and the United
States Flag was universally embraced as a national
symbol. |
FOLDING ORDER
1. Fold the Flag in half lengthwise.
2. Repeat, fold in half lengthwise again, being
careful that the blue field is on the outside.
3. As one person holds the Flag by the blue
field, another makes a
triangular fold in the opposite and continues
to make triangular folds until the entire
flag is in a triangle.
4. Tuck the loose edge of the Flag into the
pocket formed by the folds so that only the
blue field and white stars are visible. |
 |
NATIONAL FLAG FOUNDATION'S FLAG
FOLDING CEREMONY
National Flag Foundation presents its own special
flag folding ceremony, incorporating several
of the virtues attributed to the colors of the
Flag as specified in 1782 by Charles Thomson,
then Secretary of Congress. National Flag
Foundation recommends that this ceremony be
read prior to the actual folding of the flag.
The first fold stands for liberty. In America,
we are free to own property, to elect our government
representatives, to attend the church
of our choice, to openly disagree, to travel
freely without restriction, to pursue an education
and the "American Dream". The white
stripes of the Flag symbolize our liberty.
The second fold represents unity. Abraham
Lincoln stated that a house divided against
itself cannot stand. National unity in the face
of natural disasters and external threats, such
as those posed on September 11, 2001, has
preserved our constitutional republic.
The third fold stands for justice. In America
we believe that every person stands equal
before the law and is deserving of just and fair
treatment. The laborer and the lawyer are both
entitled to justice in America. The blue of the
Flag embodies justice.
The fourth fold symbolizes perseverance. To
persevere means to endure, to remain steadfast
despite severe hardship and obstacles. The
Continental Army suffered repeated setbacks
before claiming any significant victory. Yet
throughout the brutal winter of 1777 at Valley
Forge, they persevered.
The fifth fold represents hardiness. Hardiness
is the ability to withstand difficulty while remaining resolute despite adversity. The
aggressors in World War II underestimated
American hardiness. They thought that
Americans were soft, incapable and unwilling
to endure hardship. Our soldiers and sailors
such as those who fought at Normandy and in
Korea proved them wrong.
The sixth fold stands for valor. Valor means
courage, the act of defending what is right even
in the face of opposition. Nathan Hale, the
Revolutionary War patriot, was convicted of
spying by the British in 1776. Before he was
hanged, Hale displayed great valor with his
words, "I only regret that I have but one life to
give for my country." The red color in the flag
represents valor, symbolic of the blood shed by
all the American heroes who sacrificed for our
freedom.
The seventh fold symbolizes purity. A pure
nation is free from taint, from what weakens,
pollutes or renders it ineffective. Our
Founding Fathers illuminated freedom's path
for us when they created the Declaration of
Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of
Rights. The pure intent of these documents
enabled the United States of America to
become the greatest of all nations, a land of liberty
which beckons to all who are seeking asylum
from persecution and oppression.
The eighth fold represents innocence. Innocence implies that one is unacquainted
with evil and is thus free from sin. George
Washington once stated, "The love of my country
will be the ruling influence of my conduct."
Americans pay tribute to him and to all those
who give devoted service to uphold freedom's
ideals without selfish or evil motivations.
The ninth fold signifies sacrifice. To sacrifice
is to give up something valued for an ideal,
belief or goal. America exists today because of
the sacrifices of countless Americans. Many
have made the ultimate sacrifice of their lives in
battles waged during the Revolution, the World
Wars, in Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War,
Afghanistan and other locations around the
world. We pay tribute to them and to the firefighters,
policemen, soup kitchen volunteers,
members of our armed forces and numerous
others who continue to sacrifice for freedom.
The tenth fold stands for honor. One who
possesses honor possesses a keen sense of ethical
conduct. To honor a person or ideal is to
display respect for them. We give thanks for all
who have acted with honor in the founding
and growth of America. We pray that each citizen
and all those who represent us in government
will conduct themselves in a manner that
will continue to bring honor to our nation and
to our Flag.
The eleventh fold symbolizes independence. Independence is the state of being free, of being
able to make unrestricted choices within the
law as free individuals and as a free nation.
Ever since our nation’s birth, Americans have
fiercely defended their independence against all
oppressors. Patrick Henry articulated the entiments
of his fellow Americans past, present
and future when he uttered those famous
words, "Give me liberty, or give me death."
America stands as an icon of freedom and independence
for the oppressed of the world. May
it always remain so.
The twelfth fold represents truth. Truth is the
body of real events and facts. It is preserved
through adherence to reality and the avoidance
of falsehoods. America was built upon Godgiven
truths articulated in the Declaration of
Independence "that all men are created equal,
that they are endowed by their Creator with
certain unalienable rights, that among these are
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
Adherence to these truths has made America a
great nation. We pledge to continue this noble
legacy of truth so that in America, every man
woman and child may forever be free.
Reprinted courtesy of National Flag Foundation,
America’s Flag Authority-The Voice of Flag
Education. www.americanflags.org 412-261-1776. |
| |
|
|
|
