Artifact Friday: Folded Flag

If you’ve ever seen a folded United States flag on someone’s mantle or anywhere else in

their home, you likely already know that they had someone dear to them pass away after

serving in the military. However, there is more to the folded flag than just a token of gratitude

for someone’s service. Each of the thirteen folds in the flag carries its own meaning. The first fold represents life. Second comes the belief in eternal life. Whether it is through memories or an

afterlife, people continue to live on. The third fold is for the portion of the veteran’s life they

gave in service of the United States military. Number four is for the trust had, as citizens, in a higher

power. The fifth fold echoes the words of Stephen Decatur, a decorated naval officer, “Our

country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right, but it is still our country, right

or wrong.” The sixth fold represents our hearts. It is in our hearts that we pledge allegiance to

that very flag, and where we hold the principles of our nation. The seventh fold is for the armed

forces of the United States in their entirety, a thank you to the veteran for being part of

something so vital to our nation. For the eighth fold, it is the veteran’s willingness to face the

enemies of the nation and meet them with the same or greater tenacity that they would

threaten us with no matter how dire the circumstances. The ninth fold stands for the women of

the United States. It is the love of mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters that drives

extraordinary men to do extraordinary things. Furthermore, in recent years, it is the service of

those same women that the ninth fold honors. The tenth fold is for the fathers. It is the fathers,

whether they are still with us or not, who have given their sons and daughters for the defense

of liberty. Fold eleven is for the seals of King David and King Solomon of the Hebrew faith. As the

previous fold is for the Hebrew faith, the twelfth fold is for those of Christianity and represents the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The thirteenth and final fold completes the folded flag by encasing it in a sea of blue with white stars to represent the heavens, cradling all meanings of life within.

Learn More Here: https://nationalflagfoundation.org/the-meaning-behind-the-13-folds-of-the-united-states-flag/