Re: CM Tricks
Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:21 pm
Folding The FLAG
It is permissible to fly the National Colors 24-hours a day provided that you have an ALL-WEATHER flag, and provided that the flag is lit at night. Before the invention and availability of electric lighting, however, it was a normal practice to take the flag down at dusk and raise it again the following morning. Such practice, especially at military posts, gave birth to the tradition of Reveille and eventually TAPS.
When the Flag is lowered at the end of the day, it is carefully folded into a triangle (reminding us of the triangular shapes hats worn by the Revolutionary War patriots), and when properly folded only the blue field of the UNION and its stars can be seen from either side. This symbolizes the safekeeping of the flag throughout the dark of night. If you've read about Burial Flags, you also know that the last part of the interment ceremony involves the lifting of the flag from the coffin, and carefully folding it to present it to the family of one who has served their nation. Whenever the flag is folded, there is a proper procedure for doing so. Whether the flag is being removed from a flag pole, lifted from a coffin, or otherwise being tucked safely away, the first point to keep in mind is that the FLAG SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED TO TOUCH THE FLOOR OR THE GROUND.
Two people are required to properly fold the flag. The flag should be held waist-high and horizontally. Remember that the flag should be aligned so that the UNION (field of blue with the stars) is away from the audience and to their left. The Flag is then carefully folded in half, lengthwise, with the folded edge towards the audience.
The flag is then folded in half, lengthwise once again. This second fold results in a QUARTER-FOLD the full length of the flag. Properly folded, both sides will look the same, the UNION covering the full left hand side (from the audience view) of the flag, with three full stripes and a small portion of a red stripe (at the top edge) showing.
The "quarter-folded" flag
With the flag held a series of triangular folds begin, moving from the side with the stripes and folding towards the Union (right to left folds from the audience view). This is usually the "trickiest" part when first learning to fold the flag.
The last fold is to tuck the upper-left edge of the Union into the top fold of the triangle.
When all the folds are completed, the flag be a perfect triangle. It can then be safely stored for the evening, or in the case of a commemorative flag, ceremoniously presented to someone.
The proper way to store a flag is folded in this manner, in the shape of a triangle with only the blue field and white stars showing.
It is permissible to fly the National Colors 24-hours a day provided that you have an ALL-WEATHER flag, and provided that the flag is lit at night. Before the invention and availability of electric lighting, however, it was a normal practice to take the flag down at dusk and raise it again the following morning. Such practice, especially at military posts, gave birth to the tradition of Reveille and eventually TAPS.
When the Flag is lowered at the end of the day, it is carefully folded into a triangle (reminding us of the triangular shapes hats worn by the Revolutionary War patriots), and when properly folded only the blue field of the UNION and its stars can be seen from either side. This symbolizes the safekeeping of the flag throughout the dark of night. If you've read about Burial Flags, you also know that the last part of the interment ceremony involves the lifting of the flag from the coffin, and carefully folding it to present it to the family of one who has served their nation. Whenever the flag is folded, there is a proper procedure for doing so. Whether the flag is being removed from a flag pole, lifted from a coffin, or otherwise being tucked safely away, the first point to keep in mind is that the FLAG SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED TO TOUCH THE FLOOR OR THE GROUND.
Two people are required to properly fold the flag. The flag should be held waist-high and horizontally. Remember that the flag should be aligned so that the UNION (field of blue with the stars) is away from the audience and to their left. The Flag is then carefully folded in half, lengthwise, with the folded edge towards the audience.
The flag is then folded in half, lengthwise once again. This second fold results in a QUARTER-FOLD the full length of the flag. Properly folded, both sides will look the same, the UNION covering the full left hand side (from the audience view) of the flag, with three full stripes and a small portion of a red stripe (at the top edge) showing.
The "quarter-folded" flag
With the flag held a series of triangular folds begin, moving from the side with the stripes and folding towards the Union (right to left folds from the audience view). This is usually the "trickiest" part when first learning to fold the flag.
The last fold is to tuck the upper-left edge of the Union into the top fold of the triangle.
When all the folds are completed, the flag be a perfect triangle. It can then be safely stored for the evening, or in the case of a commemorative flag, ceremoniously presented to someone.
The proper way to store a flag is folded in this manner, in the shape of a triangle with only the blue field and white stars showing.