Posts Tagged ‘flag folding’

Let the Families Decide

Oct 28, 2007 Political

The Flag folding ceremony of veterans has been around for quite some time. The meanings of the folds, not part of the Flag Code, have been read by veterans while honoring a fallen hero. Now there is an edict that the meanings of the folds are not to be read at veteran’s funerals at federal cemeteries because there was a single complaint about the words used when describing some of the folds. Here are the meanings ascribed to the 13 folds:

  1. Symbol of life.
  2. Symbol of our belief in the eternal life.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.”
  6. Represents 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.
  7. A tribute to our armed forces.
  8. 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.
  9. A tribute to womanhood.
  10. A tribute to father.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. When the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost, reminding us of our national motto, “In God We Trust.”

Press Enterprise

The problem seems to stem from the last few where God is mentioned and there is acknowledgment of our Judeo-Christian heritage. Someone who attended a military funeral took exception to these words and complained about them prompting the National Cemetery Administration to ban the words at all of the cemeteries it oversees. The Administration claims they are just trying to ensure uniformity but there can be no mistake that this edict is a reaction to the complaint.

The person who made this complaint seems to feel the funeral was all about him. The funeral is a ceremony honoring the dead and it is for the dead that we perform the ceremony. The ceremony is also to bring family and friends together in order to honor the life that was lost. One thing a funeral is not is a place for some self centered idiot to make a political statement.

Here is my idea. Why don’t we allow the families of the fallen to decide if they want the words read during the Flag folding ceremony? The families can see the words beforehand and decide if they want the words read. After all, the funeral is part of a benefit afforded a fallen member of the armed forces and it is in our best interests as a country to allow the families, not some bureaucrat or sensitive bystander, to decide.

This is just another example of certain people in our society trying to cleanse any mention of our Judeo-Christian history. It is a misapplication of the First Amendment which guarantees us freedom of religion, not freedom from religion. In any event, the decision should rest solely upon the family of the fallen and not on the whims of a bureaucrat trying to appease some malcontent.

Certain veteran’s groups have decided to ignore the edict. They fought for the right to free expression and they damn sure have the right, no the duty, to fight any assault upon our freedoms.

…Against all enemies foreign and domestic so help me God.

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