Q: “At a recent funeral, the casket was draped with the United States flag, folded in a special way and presented to the decedent’s wife by the funeral director. What’s the purpose of folding the flag in a special way?” A: At the site of the Unknown Soldier in Washington, D.C, a military ceremony takes place every Veterans Day similar to what you witnessed. The flag is removed from the tomb, folded by the military honor guards and presented to the president.

This act depicts the honor that our nation bestows on our war dead and veterans.

The folding and presenting of the flag is a reminder that men and women have served our country, even sacrificed their lives so we can enjoy freedom as Americans.

Members of the armed forces who die on duty or have been discharged or separated from duty under conditions other than dishonorable are eligible for a flag for funeral purposes. The funeral director obtains the flag from the Veterans Administration.

The custom of special folding is reserved for the U.S. flag alone and is described in the Uniform Services of the Armed Forces. The canton of blue denotes honor and contains the stars representing the states our veterans served while in uniform. The red and white stripes are wrapped into the blue, as the light of day vanishes into the darkness of night.

When folded correctly, the flag will have 13 folds, each one with meaning. They are:

First fold: symbol of life.

Second fold: symbol of belief in eternal life.

Third fold: in honor and remembrance of veterans who defended our country in pursuing peace.

Fourth fold: trusting in God and seeking divine guidance.

Fifth fold: a tribute to our country.

Sixth fold: symbol of pledging allegiance to the flag, to the Republic, one nation, with liberty and justice for all.

Seventh fold: tribute to the armed forces who protect us against all enemies, whether inside or outside our boundaries.

Eighth fold: a tribute to the one who entered the valley of the shadow of death.

Ninth fold: a tribute to womanhood, for it’s through their faith, love, loyalty and devotion that the character of men and women are molded in making this country great.

Tenth fold: a tribute to fatherhood and those who have given their sons and daughters to the defense of our country.

Eleventh fold: for a Jew, representing the seals of King David and King Solomon and to the glory of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Twelfth fold: for a Christian, representing eternity and the glory to the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.

Thirteenth fold: with the stars uppermost, a reminder of our national motto, “In God We Trust.” When folded correctly with the 13 folds, the flag takes on the appearance of a cocked, tri-cornered hat, emblematic of the soldiers who served under Gen. George Washington, and the sailors and marines who served under Capt. John Paul Jones.

When the flag is presented, it is customary to say words such as, “On behalf of a very grateful nation and the president of the United States, in recognition of the service to our country, I present to you the flag of our country.” I hope that when you witness this ceremony, you take pride in knowing the meaning of using the flag for funeral purposes and the 13 folds.

To learn more, call the Department of Veterans Affairs at (800) 827-1000 or visit the National Museum of Funeral History at www.nmfh.org.

Mike Kubasak is a licensed funeral director, embalmer and certified crematory operator. A former owner of a funeral home, he is now a consultant and lectures throughout the country. He can be contacted at (702) 345-3212 or via email at mkubasak@aol.com.

Columns RSS feed