A time honored military tradition is under attack and our brave veteran warriors are steeping up to the task of protecting it. The Flag Folding Ceremony is a reflection of the spirit of freedom and the religious heritage on which this great nation was founded. With each fold of the American Flag, a ceremonial dedication is recited to honor that spirit and heritage and the sacrifice so many have made to protect it.
Symbols for the folds of the Flag
- The first fold of our flag is a symbol of life.
- The second fold is a symbol of our belief in the eternal life.
- The third fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veteran departing our ranks who gave a portion of life for the defense of our country to attain a peace throughout the world.
- The fourth fold represents our weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in times of war for His divine guidance.
- The fifth fold is a tribute 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 her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our republic.
- The eighth fold is a tribute to the one who entered in to the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day, and to honor mother, for whom it flies on Mother's Day.
- The ninth fold is a tribute to womanhood; for it has been through their faith, love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the 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 they were first born.
- The eleventh fold, in the eyes of a Hebrew citizen, 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.
- Finally, the completely folded flag with the stars showing upward, represents our national motto, "In God we Trust."
For over two centuries, we as a nation have recognized the inclusion of Almighty God and the importance of His Divine Providence in the creation and moral stewardship of these United States of America. It is to the credit of every individual who has served in uniform that we owe our highest gratitude for their protection of the very freedoms we hold so dear. It therefor comes as no surprise to me that these same heroes who fought against nazi, communist and islamofascist oppression in foreign lands continue their fight to this day, only this time, on the soil of their own homeland against those who seek to wipe out the freedoms they have sworn to protect.
Legion to ignore Veterans Affairs ban on 'God'
Members say recitation about meaning of honor flag folds to continue
Posted: October 29, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com
The California American Legion is calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs to reconsider a ban that effectively removes "God" from honor guard flag folding ceremonies at veterans' funerals.
Several legion leaders say the ban might as well be rescinded, because it will be ignored anyway.
A memo from Steve Muro, director of the Veterans Affairs' office of field programs, bans use of a recitation about the meaning of the 13 folds of the flag, which produce the famous star-covered triangle. The recitation references God several times.
"Effective immediately all national cemeteries are to refrain from distributing any handouts on 'The Meaning of Each Fold of an Honor Guard Funeral Flag,' remove any postings from all cemetery buildings and discontinue our VA-Sponsored Volunteer Honor Guards from using the handout as a script at a committal service during the folding of the flag," the directive said.*snip*
This is yet another attempt by atheists and secularists to expunge any and all government references to God from our American heritage. Their actions, disguised as a politically correct pursuit to protect civil liberties, are in reality, a thinly veiled attack on the most sacred freedoms we cherish - namely, our freedoms of speech and religion.
As it was so eloquently stated by the director of the Defense of Veterans Memorials Project for the American Legion Department of California, Rees Lloyd:
"We in the California American Legion have called on the VA to reconsider and rescind its outrageous ban and allow the families of the deceased veterans to determine what will or will not be included in the military funeral service," he said.
"Our American Legion Riverside Post 79 MHD Team 12 has also stated we will defy the ban and follow the wishes of the families," he said. "Such issues should be decided by the veterans' families, not by bureaucrats and lawyers in Washington, D.C., covering their own behinds in [fear] of lawsuits by the ACLU and others of its ilk on behalf of disgruntled atheists, agnostics, liberal secular-cleansing fanatics, or Islamist jihadists who are offended by references to God.
"We will defy them and the VA itself and conduct the military services as the families dictate, not as government bureaucrats and bureaucratic lawyers dictate," he said.
The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution states:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;"
To the best of my knowledge, Congress did not make any law that established a religion - even though sometimes it feels like they expect us to pay them homage through their absurd taxation laws.
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