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Kat

WHY THE AMERICAN FLAG IS FOLDED 13 TIMES

Have you ever noticed on TV or at military funerals that the honor guard pays meticulous attention to correctly folding the American flag 13 times?

HERE IT IS: The first fold of our flag is a symbol of life.

The second fold is a symbol of our belief in eternal life.

The third fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veterans departing our ranks who gave a portion of their lives for the defense of our country to attain peace throughout the world.

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 time of war for His divine guidance.

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."

The sixth fold is for 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.

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.

The eighth fold is a tribute to the one who entered into 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.

The ninth fold is a tribute to womanhood; for it has been through their faith, their love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great has been molded.

The tenth fold is a tribute to the father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of our country since they were first born.

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.

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 Spirit.

When the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost reminding us of our nation's motto, "In God We Trust". After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat, ever reminding us of the soldiers who served under General George Washington, and the sailors and marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones, who were followed by their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States, preserving for us the rights, privileges, and freedoms we enjoy today. There are some traditions and ways of doing things which have deep meaning. You will see many flags folded in the coming weeks, and now you will know why.

The flag folding ceremony represents the same religious principles on which our great country was originally founded.
The portion of the flag denoting honor is the canton of blue containing the stars representing states our veterans served in uniform. The canton field of blue dresses from left to right and is inverted only when draped as a pall on the casket of a veteran who has served our country honorably in uniform.
In the Armed Forces of the United States, at the ceremony of retreat, the flag is lowered, folded in a triangle fold and kept under watch throughout the night as a tribute to our nations honored dead. The next morning it is brought out and, at the ceremony of reveille, run aloft as a symbol of our belief in the resurrection of the body.


Kat

I forgot how to put pics like those up here. Remind me??

Kat

I have been reading all morning the names and wars that are being remembered.

It is very sobering.

Kat

When I met with my son Jay at IHOP a two weeks ago before he left to go to Iraq...a man came up to him and thanked him for doing his service for us. I was very proud for him.

oops...."three weeks ago".

Kat

Yes Fanta. I know. I agree. AAAAUUUNNNDDDDD you don't have to YELL at me!!! lol

Can anyone tell me why so many think it is a reason to get sh!t faced and party??

Kat

Helllooooo....I wasn't saying it was right. Duhhh...just saying I get it. Cops have always been a bit rough. People now demand more accountability though.

Still....that man would have been lucky to make it to court if it had been my kid he hit with that car.

Kat

Kinda makes me wonder if was playing dead. Acting as if he were unconcious. But....in that kind of accident he could and may very well have been out like a light. These cops were running on adrinalin....pure and simple. And he hit a cop!! Whoa!!! Shouldn't do that.

I think lawsuits while commiting a crime should be "nada"!
I mean if that son of a bich had hit one of my own and I caught him.....wouldn't be pretty. Be damn my job.

Kat

HEYEEEEE Virgil!!!! Good to see you.

Kat

It actually began in 1867.

To help re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the "National Moment of Remembrance" resolution was passed on Dec 2000 which asks that at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans "To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to 'Taps."

The Moment of Remembrance is a step in the right direction to returning the meaning back to the day. What is needed is a full return to the original day of observance. Set aside one day out of the year for the nation to get together to remember, reflect and honor those who have given their all in service to their country.

I have a post in general about it.

I know that this is to honor all the dead soldiers. But it can also be to think about those that serve now and have somehow been forgotten about. We still have soldiers dying almost weekly. It has been almost not talked about.


I BET MOST STILL DON'T KNOW THAT 3:00 PM IS SET ASIDE TO REMEMBER IN OUR OWN WAY TO SHOW RESPECT FOR THE FALLEN.


We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.

This is what we should be remembering.

"poppy's are the official flower for memorial day"

Kat

Excuse me Fanta; but to be honest....the very ones that serve our country right now are heroes in progress. They proudly and boldly serve us. Put their lives in danger. Is that not heroic? Do they really have to die to be heroes? I mean I understand what you are saying...but....We have injured soldiers that have to live with disabilities for the rest of their lives hon.
Is it not heroic to leave your family and life to serve your country when called on? Is that not to be admired? Our military now is one of the best ever. All inlisted. The call to arms now is a call obove and beyond. Above their own families and beyond borders in a far away land where danger is everywhere and blind in many ways. To volunteer to fight blindly an enemy that is barbaric and murderous...to not know your enemy by sight. No fighting eye to eye...face to face... but by roadside bombs and trash and cars and human bombs!

I salute you Fanta for your part as one of our own and proud soldiers. Desert storm was no picnic. You deserved to be recognized as does all those that serve in a time of need.

We disagree respectfully Fanta. "is there a "hug" icon"?

Kat

I have been doing that quite a bit lately anyway. My antivirus has found a few thinga and quarantined all but two of them. It says it can't remove them completely. Crap! Looking into buying a more agressive one.

Kat

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 - 363) to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays), though several southern states have an additional separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead: January 19 in Texas, April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10 in South Carolina; and June 3 (Jefferson Davis' birthday) in Louisiana and Tennessee.

In 1915, inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields," Moina Michael replied with her own poem:



We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.

This is what we should be remembering.

Kat

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, "Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping" by Nella L. Sweet carried the dedication "To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead" (Source: Duke University's Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920). While Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it's difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day. It is more likely that it had many separate beginnings; each of those towns and every planned or spontaneous gathering of people to honor the war dead in the 1860's tapped into the general human need to honor our dead, each contributed honorably to the growing movement that culminated in Gen Logan giving his official proclamation in 1868. It is not important who was the very first, what is important is that Memorial Day was established. Memorial Day is not about division. It is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.

a drunk fest and party day? Now three day weekend.

(((TODAY AT 3:00 PM has been asked that we stop what we are doing and have a moment of silence for our soldiers dead and alive serving our country. Risking their lives for us and all those in peril.)))

""BY THE WAY; DOES ANYONE HANG FLAGS ANYMORE? Decorate the house or yard? My yard is flagged up and pride posted very clearly.""

Traditional observance of Memorial day has diminished over the years. Many Americans nowadays have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. At many cemeteries, the graves of the fallen are increasingly ignored, neglected. Most people no longer remember the proper flag etiquette for the day. While there are towns and cities that still hold Memorial Day parades, many have not held a parade in decades. Some people think the day is for honoring any and all dead, and not just those fallen in service to our country.

There are a few notable exceptions. Since the late 50's on the Thursday before Memorial Day, the 1,200 soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry place small American flags at each of the more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. They then patrol 24 hours a day during the weekend to ensure that each flag remains standing. In 1951, the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of St. Louis began placing flags on the 150,000 graves at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery as an annual Good Turn, a practice that continues to this day. More recently, beginning in 1998, on the Saturday before the observed day for Memorial Day, the Boys Scouts and Girl Scouts place a candle at each of approximately 15,300 grave sites of soldiers buried at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park on Marye's Heights (the Luminaria Program). And in 2004, Washington D.C. held its first Memorial Day parade in over 60 years.

To help re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the "National Moment of Remembrance" resolution was passed on Dec 2000 which asks that at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans "To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to 'Taps."

The Moment of Remembrance is a step in the right direction to returning the meaning back to the day. What is needed is a full return to the original day of observance. Set aside one day out of the year for the nation to get together to remember, reflect and honor those who have given their all in service to their country.

Kat

I also was having those issues. I was getting very upset. Did two scans myself. Been having bug issues as of late. Trogans and what have you.

Glad to know it isn't me.

Kat

I was gonna ask the same question. The pic in my opinion doesn't match his profile. But...in all honesty...I don't see as well as I once did.

Aaaauuunnndd...yes...the penicillin does knock it right out. lol

Kat

A friend of mine did. He told me stories that I do not care to repeat. It made me sick. It made him sick. He quit after it got to him. I can name a few plants where I am from...and they are nasty. People only take care of the rules when some are not looking. My friend was a whistle blower of sorts when he witnessed things not legal in them.

Gotta go for now. Will be back.

Kat

Slaughterhouses are ugly, maddening, and overall....sick! They are terrible. The animals suffer greatly for people. They are not killed clean. They are injured, scared and a mess by the time they actually die. Sometimes they are not dead before thay begin the process. An ugly thing.

I am not prohunt...but....if one uses that as their only means of meat and used the kill for all the purposes they should be used for; then ok. I can't stand to see heads of animals on walls. It is wrong. People kill for pleaseure and that is wrong. It should be necessity, not pleasure.

Kat

Torturing; sleep depravation or otherwise is not reliable. One gets so tired they will say anything to get them to stop and get some sleep. Stories will be made up and truth and lies become mangled. Torture is not reliable. It is inhumane and unthinkable.

President Obama (BHO) was informed and told not to go on with it, by the very men that have to deal with Iraq and Afghanistan. The highest of ranking we have there. The ones that are in charge of our soldiers coming home safe. If those guys over there see more and more of this ridiculous thing...our soldiers are in grave peril.
Kat