Meaning of Flag Draged Coffin

[shooter32]

 Meaning of  Flag Draped Coffin

     

      All  Americans should be given this lesson.  Those who think that America is an arrogant nation should really reconsider that thought.  Our founding fathers used GOD's word and teachings to  establish our Great Nation and I think it's high time Americans get  re-educated about this Nation's history.

      Pass it along and be proud of the country we live in and even more proud of those who serve to protect  our 'GOD GIVEN' rights and freedoms.

       

      I  hope you take the time to read this ... To understand what the flag

      draped coffin really means ... Here is how to understand the flag that  laid upon it and is surrendered to so many widows and  widowers.

     

      Do you know that at military funerals, the 21-gun  salute stands for the sum of the numbers in the  year 1776?

     

   
      Have you ever noticed the honor guard pays meticulous attention to

      correctly folding the United States of America Flag 13 times?  You  probably thought it was to symbolize the original 13 colonies, but we  learn something new every day!

     

      The 1st fold of the flag is a symbol of life.

     

      The 2nd fold is a symbol of the belief in eternal life.

       

      The 3rd fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veterans departing the ranks who gave a portion of their lives for the defense of the country to attain peace throughout the world.

     
      The 4th fold represents the 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 5th fold is a tribute to the 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 6th fold is for where people's hearts lie.  It is with their heart that

      they pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States Of America , and the Republic for which it stands, one Nation  under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.

     

      The 7th fold is a tribute to its Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that they protect  their country and their flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of their republic.

     

      The 8th 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.

     

      The 9th fold is a tribute to womanhood, and Mothers.  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 10th fold is a tribute to the father, for he, too, has given his sons

      and daughters for the defense of their country since they were first  born.

     
      The 11th fold represents the lower portion of the seal of King  David and King Solomon and glorifies in the Hebrews eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

     
      The 12th fold represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in the

      Christians eyes, God the Father, the Son  and Holy  Spirit.

     

      The 13th fold, or when the flag is completely folded, the stars are

      uppermost reminding them of their nations 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 them the rights, privileges and freedoms they enjoy  today.

     
      There are some traditions and ways of doing things that have deep meaning.

     
      In the future, you'll see flags folded and now you will know why.

     
      Share  this with the children you love and all others who love what is

      referred  to, the symbol of ' Liberty and Freedom.'

     
      MAYBE  THE SUPREME COURT SHOULD READ THIS EXPLANATION BEFORE THEY RENDER THEIR  DECISION ON THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.   FORWARD  IT; MAYBE SOMEONE WITH THE NECESSARY POWER, OR POLITICAL AND FINANCIAL INFLUENCE, WILL GET IT TO THEM.

     
      IN  THE MEANTIME, MAY GOD PROTECT US ALWAYS.

     
      ONE  NATION, UNDER GOD, WITH LIBERTY AND  JUSTICE FOR ALL.

 

             

[MikeBjerum]

Meaning of  Flag Draped Coffin

     

      All  Americans should be given this lesson.  Those who think that America is an arrogant nation should really reconsider that thought.  Our founding fathers used GOD's word and teachings to  establish our Great Nation and I think it's high time Americans get  re-educated about this Nation's history.

      Pass it along and be proud of the country we live in and even more proud of those who serve to protect  our 'GOD GIVEN' rights and freedoms.

     

     

      I  hope you take the time to read this ... To understand what the flag

      draped coffin really means ... Here is how to understand the flag that  laid upon it and is surrendered to so many widows and  widowers.

     

      Do you know that at military funerals, the 21-gun  salute stands for the sum of the numbers in the  year 1776?

     

     

     

      Have you ever noticed the honor guard pays meticulous attention to

      correctly folding the United States of America Flag 13 times?  You  probably thought it was to symbolize the original 13 colonies, but we  learn something new every day!

     

      The 1st fold of the flag is a symbol of life.

     

      The 2nd fold is a symbol of the belief in eternal life.

       

      The 3rd fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veterans departing the ranks who gave a portion of their lives for the defense of the country to attain peace throughout the world.

     

     

      The 4th fold represents the 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 5th fold is a tribute to the 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 6th fold is for where people's hearts lie.  It is with their heart that

      they pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States Of America , and the Republic for which it stands, one Nation  under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.

     

      The 7th fold is a tribute to its Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that they protect  their country and their flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of their republic.

     

     

     

      The 8th 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.

     

     

     

      The 9th fold is a tribute to womanhood, and Mothers.  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 10th fold is a tribute to the father, for he, too, has given his sons

      and daughters for the defense of their country since they were first  born.

     

     

     

      The 11th fold represents the lower portion of the seal of King  David and King Solomon and glorifies in the Hebrews eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

     

     

     

      The 12th fold represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in the

      Christians eyes, God the Father, the Son  and Holy  Spirit.

     

      The 13th fold, or when the flag is completely folded, the stars are

      uppermost reminding them of their nations 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 them the rights, privileges and freedoms they enjoy  today.

     

      There are some traditions and ways of doing things that have deep meaning.

     

      In the future, you'll see flags folded and now you will know why.

     

      Share  this with the children you love and all others who love what is

      referred  to, the symbol of ' Liberty and Freedom.'

     

     

      MAYBE  THE SUPREME COURT SHOULD READ THIS EXPLANATION BEFORE THEY RENDER THEIR  DECISION ON THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.   FORWARD  IT; MAYBE SOMEONE WITH THE NECESSARY POWER, OR POLITICAL AND FINANCIAL INFLUENCE, WILL GET IT TO THEM.

     

      IN  THE MEANTIME, MAY GOD PROTECT US ALWAYS.

     

      ONE  NATION, UNDER GOD, WITH LIBERTY AND  JUSTICE FOR ALL.

 

             

Excellent!

However, the gun salute is an urban myth.  We gave this out to families of veterans after the funeral, and I researched it prior to printing.  The 21 gun salute is much older than our nation.  I found references with multiple sources for the 16th century.  The salute is done to signal the enemy that we are disarmed and at peace for __________________.  Besides laying comrades to rest, the salute was done as foreign ships entered port (several sources cited the number of deck guns equaling 21) to disarm the vessel, to show unarmed for a religious purpose, to show intentions of peace during a holiday or festival, to honor a treaty, etc.

Outside of that one sentence, I have always liked that one.

[Solus]

Not to take anything away from the respect shown our war dead or the honor shown by the 21 gun salute, the reasons listed are only someone's poetry.

I won't go into a discussion of the 13 folds again since it was covered in a previous thread here, but here is a link to several "meanings" of the 13 folds.  Pick your favorite.

http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/more/folds.htm

Let me post this about the 21 gun salute.

A myth common in the United States of America relative to the origin of this tradition is that the year 1776 inspired the 21-gun salute because the sum of the digits in 1776 is 21 (i.e., 1+7+7+6 = 21). This, however is not true. Beginning in the colonial period, the United States fired one shot for each state in the Union as its national salute. This practice was partly a result of usage, because John Paul Jones saluted France with 13 guns at Quiberon Bay in 1778 when the Stars and Stripes received its first salute. The practice was not officially authorized until 1810, when the United States Department of War  declared the number of rounds fired in the 'National Salute' to be equivalent to the number of states -- which, at the time was 17. The tradition continued until 1841 when it was reduced from 26 to 21.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/21-gun_salute

[PegLeg45]

Also of note concerning gun salutes at military funerals, it is termed a 'Three-volley Salute' instead of '21 Gun Salute'.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3-volley_salute

The 3-volley salute is a ceremonial act performed at military and police funerals as part of the drill and ceremony of the Honor Guard. It consists of a rifle party firing blank cartridges into the air three times. The custom originates from the European dynastic wars, where the fighting ceased so the dead and wounded could be removed. Then, three shots were fired into the air to signal that the battle could resume.

A rifle party usually has an odd number of members, from 3 to 7. The firearm used is typically a rifle, but at some police funerals, shotguns or handguns are used. The party usually stands so that the muzzles are pointed over the casket. However if mourners are present near the grave, the party stands some distance away (often recommended at least 50 feet) so as to not deafen the attendees and minimize the disturbance. If the service is being performed indoors, the firing party stands outside the building, often near the front entrance. On the command of the NCO-in-charge, the party raises their weapons and fires three times in unison.

Modern United States military parties use modified M1, M14 or M16 rifles with their semi-automatic gas action disabled, as manually cycling the weapon between shots is part of the drill. The M1 and M14 are generally preferred over the current issue M16 because the appearance of these older rifles is more traditional and the charging handles are more easily operated in a dignified, ceremonial manner.

The three-volley salute is not to be confused with the 21-gun salute (or 19-gun or 17-gun, etc.) which uses a battery of artillery pieces.

And then there's this tid-bit of info from the Department of Veterans Affairs:

http://www1.va.gov/opa/publications/celebrate/gunsalute.pdf

[twyacht]

Thanks shooter,

Lest We Forget.

[Sponsor]

[PegLeg45]

Thanks shooter,

Lest We Forget.

+1

Forgot to say that in first post. Even if it's not 'official' it is still a wonderful and thoughtful way to think when folding Old Glory.

Thanks, Shooter.