How to Fold a Flag for a Military Funeral
Military funeral services are full of tradition and formality. One well-known formal tradition at military funeral services is the folding of the United States flag, which is then presented to a family member. Folding the flag requires two people working together.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Hold the flag at waist height parallel with the ground. The flag should be horizontal between two flag folders.
-
2
Fold the flag in half lengthwise so that the stripes are folded over the stars.
-
-
3
Fold the flag in half lengthwise again, folded edge to open edge, with the field of stars on the outside of the fold.
-
4
Fold the flag diagonally at the striped end of the flag by bringing the corner of the folded edge of the flag over to the open edge of the flag.
-
5
Fold the point that you just created with the last fold up along the open edge of the flag.
-
6
Fold the bottom edge of the triangle you have created over to the folded edge of the flag diagonally.
-
7
Continue the triangular folding from the previous three steps for the entire length of the flag, keeping the folds tight by holding the flag taunt between the two flag folders as the folds are made. When these triangular folds are completed only the blue field of stars should be visible.
-
8
Tuck in the final triangular fold so that the flag does not unravel. Present the flag to the next of kin or to a close friend or associate if no next of kin is available.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
The flag should always be held tightly by the flag folders and each fold should be made very precisely so that the flag looks neat once all the folding is done.
The United States flag starts on the top of the casket at the military funeral, with the field of stars over the left shoulder of the deceased.
Do not allow the flag to fall at any point during the folding of the flag. The United States flag is not to ever touch the ground, and flags that do touch the ground are to be burned.
