How to Fold an American Flag

Flag etiquette is an critical part of the American tradition that makes certain the Stars and Stripes are treated with the dignity they have earned. Established by Congress in 1942, the formal U.S. Flag Code created tips for the care and show of the flag. Though it does not describe an formal strategy for folding the flag, the policies do condition that you really should under no circumstances shop a flag in a way exactly where it can get torn, dirty, or broken. You really should also under no circumstances permit the flag touch everything beneath it, such as the floor or floor.

Above time, a triangular shape has come to be the common way to fold the flag and shop it in a secure way. According to the American Legion, the actual origin of this certain process is not known, but it may possibly trace again to the Gold Star Moms of The usa or the United States Air Force Academy.

You can fly Previous Glory any working day of the year, but you may possibly want to set absent an specially massive flag after exhibiting it on Memorial Day. This strategy will maintain your flag wanting pristine until until the Fourth of July or the subsequent important vacation. If you’re by you, very first lay the flag out on a desk encounter-up, smoothing out any wrinkles. If not, find a husband or wife and stand opposite each individual other at the quick ends, holding the flag taut and parallel to the floor. Here is what to do subsequent:

How to Fold an American Flag

1. Fold the decrease, striped part of the flag above the blue field.
2. Fold above the folded bottom edge to meet the leading edge.
3. Start off a triangular fold by bringing the striped corner of the folded edge to the leading edge.
4. Turn the outer point inward, parallel with the leading edge, to sort a next triangle.
5. Keep on until the final folds ensure that only the Union (the blue portion with white stars) is displaying and the open up edges are folded in.

See Accurately How to Fold the Flag

A pair ideas:

• In the very first two techniques, you’re primarily folding the flag in quarters lengthwise.
• If you’re folding the flag with a husband or wife, the person at the striped finish really should make all of the triangular folds even though the person at the Union finish retains the flag taut.

Betsy Farrell

Flag etiquette dictates only traveling your flag between dawn and sunset except if it is appropriately illuminated. You really should also take down Previous Glory in the party of inclement weather conditions except if it truly is an all-weather conditions flag produced out of a non-absorbent material like nylon. Only fly American flags in very good ailment, but as lengthy as you comply with these tips, your Stars and Stripes will previous decades to appear.