The custom of flag folding listed below is reserved for the US Flag alone. Always take special care so that no part of the flag touches the ground. To avoid having the flag touch the ground it is necessary for at least two people to fold the flag together. In the folding, the red and white stripes are wrapped into the blue.
Each fold holds its own meaning
Begin by holding the flag waist-high with another person so that its surface is parallel to the ground.
Step 1
Fold the lower half of the stripe section lengthwise over the field of stars, holding the bottom and top edges securely.
The first fold in the flag stands for liberty
Step 2
Fold the flag again lengthwise with the blue field on the outside.
The second fold in the flag represents unity
Step 3
Make a triangular fold by bringing the striped corner of the folded edge to meet the open (top) edge of the flag.
The third fold stands for justice
Step 4
Turn the outer (end) point inward, parallel to the open edge, to form a second triangle.
The fourth fold symbolizes perseverance
Step 5-12
The triangular folding is continued until the entire length of the flag is folded in this manner.
The fifth fold represents hardiness
The sixth fold stands for valor
The seventh fold symbolizes purity
The eighth fold represents innocence
The ninth fold signifies sacrifice
The tenth fold stands for honor
The eleventh fold symbolizes independence
The twelfth represents truth
Flag folding complete
There are a total of 12 folds. When the flag is completely folded, only a triangular blue field of stars should be visible.
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