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November 11, 2007

Veterans Day Repost: Thirteen Folds

Originally posted on Nov 11, 2005

Our church was honored this past weekend when three American soldiers presented our congregation with a flag in recognition of the small acts we have performed for our military at home and aboard. As they presented the flag, the sergeant leading the detail explained the significance of each fold.

Via US History.org:

  1. The first fold of our flag is a symbol of life.
  2. The second fold is a symbol of our belief in the eternal life.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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."
  6. The sixth fold is for where our hearts lie. It is with our heart that we pledge llegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it tands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. When the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost, reminding us of our national motto, "In God we Trust."

A sincere thanks to all of you who have served our nation's military.

Your sacrifices are not forgotten.

Update: Jonn Lilyea (Sergeant First Class, US Army-Retired) has a post from Arlington National Cemetery, including video of the wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns over at This Ain't Hell.

Posted by Confederate Yankee at November 11, 2007 12:22 PM
Comments

Oh my, liberals will pass out from anger after reading all those!

God bless all those who have served!

Posted by: Capitalist Infidel at November 11, 2007 12:34 PM

http://www.snopes.com/military/flagfold.asp

Incidentally, the national motto is "E Pluribus Unum," not "In God We Trust."

Posted by: Dawnfire82 at November 11, 2007 01:12 PM

And these days the flag-folding recitation is banned at veterans' cemeteries.

I have the URL, but your comments would not accept it in any form.

Posted by: Suzi at November 11, 2007 01:18 PM

Dawnfire82 - E Pluribus Unum has been superceded.

It is no longer "Out of many, one". The official PC, diversity approved motto is now, "Out of many, many".

Posted by: SouthernRoots at November 11, 2007 01:30 PM

Here's another excellent Veterans' Day article.

Suzi, try TinyURL.com to change the URL to one that will get by CY's filters.

Posted by: C-C-G at November 11, 2007 02:12 PM

Don't take this wrong but there is actually no meaning to the folds or the way the flag is folded other than someone decided that this was the best way to fold it.

Posted by: bludvl at November 11, 2007 02:46 PM

Some folks just aren't happy unless they're raining on someone else's parade.

Posted by: C-C-G at November 11, 2007 04:13 PM
And these days the flag-folding recitation is banned at veterans' cemeteries.

No, it was never quite banned and the policy that came close to it has been rescinded. The wishes of the family prevail.

Link

May God bless America and keep those who gave all for her close to Him.

Posted by: Pablo at November 11, 2007 06:32 PM

Oh my, liberals will pass out from anger after reading all those! God bless all those who have served!

Capitalist Infidel,

Thank you.

And you may be surprised that some of us who served are die-hard liberals.

Ask Bob. He'll tell you I don't shy away from my liberal values but I fight like hell for veterans, no matter what their political stripe.

I salute all those who wouldn't let others take their place on the line.

They are my brothers.

Hoo-uh.

Posted by: David Terrenoire at November 11, 2007 08:26 PM

If the American Legion says it has significance today, I'm more inclined to believe them than someone else.

Posted by: Purple Avenger at November 11, 2007 09:04 PM

To be a "die hard liberal" one MUST have a vicious hatred for American and a seething rage at the sight of an American soldier.

Posted by: Capitalist Infidel at November 12, 2007 01:47 PM

Cap Infidel,

Yeah, I hate soldiers and America so much that I enlisted for active duty in 1969 when your vice president had other priorities.

Yeah, I hate soldiers and America so much that I come from a family of soldiers. Even my sister retired as a Major. My brother commanded a company in Vietnam. My father was in the Pacific when his brother was KIA on Iwo.

My wife's father was with the 82nd, dropped into France on June 6. Her grandfather was a West Point officer and aide to Omar Bradley. Her brother is a Navy flier and graduate of Annapolis.

Yeah, I hate soldiers and I hate America.

So, where did you serve, Capitalist Infidel? When did you sign up?

Just wondering.

Posted by: David Terrenoire at November 12, 2007 02:40 PM

David, where did Mr. and Mrs. Clinton serve?

Where did Mr. Obama serve?

If you're going to toss around accusations of elected officials dodging service, best look around your own party before doing so.

Before you ask, I have never served, and am unable to because of a disability. Call me a chickenhawk or coward if you wish, it will only demonstrate your own moral character or lack thereof.

Posted by: C-C-G at November 12, 2007 09:15 PM

I'm calling bull*hit on all of Dave's assertions. There's nothing lower than some whiny far left wing fanatical nutjob pretending to have served! It's like they think they'll get some kind of respect.

Posted by: Capitalist Infidel at November 13, 2007 04:07 AM

Dan, any 15 year old with acne living in his mothers basement can use google to be someone they wish they were.

Posted by: Capitalist Infidel at November 13, 2007 09:23 AM

David, the point is, if you are going to make military service the sine qua non of qualifications for the Presidency, then you cannot support either of the two Democrats who are closest to the nomination unless you have a glaring double-standard. I presume you're going to vote for John McCain, then, since he honorably served?

And, I have said before, military service does not necessarily mean one will be a good President. Look at General Ulysses S. Grant, later President Grant. Brilliant general, lousy President.

If you cannot handle such logic, perhaps you should return to DU where everyone agrees that Bush is the Fntichrist and Cheney the False Prophet.

Posted by: C-C-G at November 13, 2007 09:46 AM

Oops, that's what I get for trying to type before my morning caffeine.

I meant "return to DU where everyone agrees that Bush is the Antichrist..."

I apologize for the error.

Posted by: C-C-G at November 13, 2007 09:47 AM

C-C-G,

No where did I ever say that military service was a prerequisite to serving as president. What I was alluding to was this, and I'll type slowly so you can follow along:

Liberals are bashed here for not loving their country. I am a liberal. I felt such a deep obligation to serve this country that I enlisted during a war I didn't agree with. But service to one's country is not dependent on agreeing with one's foreign policy. So I went. Cheney used five dferments to make sure he didn't go. I think that speaks volumes and has nothing to do with who is running for office. You conflated the two, not me.

I hope you could follow that logic even though I used the word conflate, which is two syllables.

And Cap Infidel, if you'd taken 5 seconds to Google me, you'd see a hell of a lot more than anyone could possibly fabricate. And if you read my Veteran's Day post, you might even get some insight into what it means to serve one's country, something you probably don't have any idea what that's all about. Because it's not about politics. Not about politics at all.

But none of this will matter because your posts are little more than clapping your hands over your ears and going la-la-la I can't hear you.

Posted by: David Terrenoire at November 13, 2007 10:05 AM

Of course it's easy to make all of it up. All it takes is google. I refuse anyone who has ever served would vote for the likes of Harry Reid who declared the war lost. Oh yeah, there's some confidence in our soldiers. Or would they vote for Jack Murtha who said our soldiers killed "in cold blood" and as we all know the charges were dropped. But of course Murtha "supports the troops" right?

No former soldier would be the ideological twin of Rosie O'Donell who calls our soldiers "terrorists." Do you agree with your fellow democrat? Were you a terrorist?

No former soldier would vote the same way these democrats do.

Nor do I believe any former soldier would have the same ideology as these people either.

So, either you are lying and never served or you have a seething rage and irrational hatred for our country and the military. Which is it?

Posted by: Capitalist Infidel at November 13, 2007 05:21 PM

So, Cap, you have only respect for veterans who think exactly the way you do, is that right? That's some definition of freedom you got there, pal.

And you don't believe I did what you apparently don't have the cojones to do? Oh my, Nancy, how will I ever sleep tonight?

Posted by: David Terrenoire at November 13, 2007 07:10 PM

David, seems you're the one being slow on the uptake.

You are denigrating an elected official for not having served. Fair enough, I am doing the same, just choosing those from your preferred party instead of mine.

It's called "sauce for the goose."

If you don't want people to consider the service record of the elected officials of your preferred party, don't bring up the service records of those in other parties.

That's also known as "not throwing stones from inside a glass house."

Posted by: C-C-G at November 13, 2007 08:52 PM
Cheney used five dferments to make sure he didn't go. I think that speaks volumes and has nothing to do with who is running for office. You conflated the two, not me.

And what do those volumes say, David? I don't see how C-C-G conflated anything. It was, after all, you who brought it up.

Posted by: Pablo at November 14, 2007 07:36 AM

Thank you, Pablo.

If you're ever in the Washington-Idaho area, look me up. I'll treat you to a steak.

Posted by: C-C-G at November 14, 2007 09:31 AM

David, thanks for finally admitting you hate the troops. At least you were finally honest about it.

Posted by: Capitalist Infidel at November 17, 2007 02:06 AM