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The Stars and Stripes Folding Ceremony

The sacred religious principles, spiritual traditions, and profound patriotic symbolism behind each precise fold of our National Colors.

The completely folded triangular tri-corner cocked hat design of the United States flag

The flag folding ceremony represents the same religious principles upon which our country was originally founded.

The Canton of Honor: The portion of the flag denoting honor is the canton of blue containing the stars representing the states our veterans served in uniform. The canton field of blue dresses from left to right, and is only inverted when draped as a pall on the casket of a veteran who has honorably served our country.

In the Armed Forces of the United States, at the evening ceremony of retreat after Taps have been sounded, the flag is lowered, folded into a triangular shape, and kept under vigilant watch throughout the night as a silent tribute to our nation’s honored dead. The next morning, at the ceremony of reveille, it is brought forth and run aloft as a shining symbol of our belief in the resurrection of the body. The individual folds of our beautiful flag all symbolize the same religious principals that our great nation was founded upon.

The Thirteen Folds of Tradition

  • The First Fold of our flag is a symbol of life.
  • The Second Fold signifies our belief in eternal life.
  • The Third Fold is made in honor and tribute of the veteran departing our ranks, and who gave a portion of his or her life for the defense of our country to attain peace.
  • The Fourth Fold exemplifies our weaker nature as citizens trusting in God; it is to Him we turn for His divine guidance.
  • The Fifth Fold is an acknowledgement 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 enemies.
  • 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 our mother, for whom it flies on Mother’s Day.
  • The Ninth Fold is an honor to womanhood, for it has been through their faith, love, loyalty, and devotion that the character of men and women who have made this country great have been molded.
  • The Tenth Fold is a tribute to father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of our country since he or she was first-born.
  • The Eleventh Fold, in the eyes of Hebrew citizens, 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 Ghost.
  • The Last Fold, when the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost, reminding us of our national motto, “In God We Trust.”
National Flag Foundation: The Meaning Behind the 13 Folds

After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the physical 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. They, followed faithfully by their comrades and shipmates in the armed forces of the United States, have successfully preserved for us the invaluable rights, privileges, and freedoms which we enjoy today.