The Significance of 13 Flag Folds
The Significance of Its Removal
Due to the recent controversy of folding the flag at graveside services, I will reprint the reasons behind each fold in the flag...which we used to recite after school every day in Elementary School (we students actually competed against each other for the privilege of raising or lowering the flag at school!).
One person would recite as three people folded the flag:
(This is probably not the exact text we recited, but it is close enough.)
The 1st fold of our flag is a symbol of life.
The 2nd fold is a symbol of our belief in eternal life.
The 3rd fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veterans departing our ranks who gave a portion of their lives for the defense of our country to attain peace throughout the world.
The 4th 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 time of war for His divine guidance.
The 5th 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 6th 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 7th 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 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 defense of our 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 us of our nation’s motto, “In God We Trust.”
After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat, 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 us the rights, privileges and freedoms we enjoy today.
Commentary
People, your Republic is being incrementalized right out of existence. Our traditions and history are being removed before our very eyes.
**Update** Congressman Heath Shuler has addressed this issue, and posted it yesterday to his AC-T Blog:
One person would recite as three people folded the flag:
(This is probably not the exact text we recited, but it is close enough.)
The 1st fold of our flag is a symbol of life.
The 2nd fold is a symbol of our belief in eternal life.
The 3rd fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veterans departing our ranks who gave a portion of their lives for the defense of our country to attain peace throughout the world.
The 4th 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 time of war for His divine guidance.
The 5th 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 6th 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 7th 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 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 defense of our 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 us of our nation’s motto, “In God We Trust.”
After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat, 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 us the rights, privileges and freedoms we enjoy today.
Commentary
People, your Republic is being incrementalized right out of existence. Our traditions and history are being removed before our very eyes.
**Update** Congressman Heath Shuler has addressed this issue, and posted it yesterday to his AC-T Blog:
This afternoon I led dozens of my colleagues in sending a letter to the Acting Secretary of the Department Veterans Affairs, Gordon Mansfield, asking him to reconsider the VA’s recently announced policies banning the traditional flag-folding recitations by Memorial Honor Detail volunteers.Source: Heath Shuler Blog (Be sure you read the whole thing.)
During tens of thousands of veteran’s funerals the Memorial Honor Detail have folded the flag draping the coffin and recited the significance of each of the thirteen folds to the surviving family. The Military Times reported on Friday, October 26th that a complaint from Riverside (CA) National Cemetery over the recitation for the 11th fold caused the nationwide ban on the recitations. The recitation for the 11th fold is, “The 11th fold represents the lower portion of the seal of King David & King Solomon, glorifying the God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob.”
To disallow a heartfelt ceremony important to the surviving family of so many veterans because one person protested one recitation makes no sense to me. The veteran whose funeral these recitations are being read at fought to protect our Nation and the right to freedom of speech and religion embedded in our Bill of Rights.
My letter, signed by 27 of my colleagues, asked that the Acting Secretary reconsider the policy and allow the Memorial Honor Detail volunteers to perform these traditional flag-folding recitations if requested by the family of the deceased.
BueNC Drinks Edwards Kool-Aid
Attacks Journalism Student and Advisor
The first clue anyone should have of the shaky ground that these socialists stand on is the first resort to ad hominem attacks on the people involved with the report...not countering the story itself.
All quotes except one, are taken from this story on BlueNC. (Carolina Blue!)
Example One:
Folks, the author (as almost all Neostalinists do, first try to discredit the messenger, following the Saul Alinsky playbook by the letter. I will say that I am shocked that a Republican has managed to survive in the UNC School of Journalism without being tarred and feathered and rode out of town on a rail...but wait, maybe I have spoke too soon, I expect that this is the beginning of the process!
See, now that the author has {apparently) destroyed the credibility of the video producer and the J-Schhol perps, they can safely assign the Edwards people the role of "victim"...a very necessary step in the progressive movement for achieving sainthood.
A bit skeptical?!? The author obviously went in the wrong direction when choosing an adverb, using "bit" instead of "very".
Also, when I hear someone say "proper role," I know am about to hear pure, unmitigated crap flow from someone's mouth. The author notices that the blog is state-supported (therefore is supposed to be friendly to lefties) and that the faculty member is employed by the state (how on earth did a Republican slip through the key system that is supposed to prevent hiring anyone on the right who is not a weenie?), and implying that perhaps that person should niot be employed by the state. That is where lefties always excell, with the implied use of force against their opponents, if not by themselves, then enlisting the state to do their bidding.
Then as a parting shot:
At least the author was taken to task by some of the commentators, one of whom knew the student reporter, and did not know she was a Republican until they read it somewhere else; and the author did withdraw the charge.
One false charge is disposed of, and another specter must be summoned to keep the hate (or fear, I'm not sure which) flowing: Art Pope. I must look up this Art Pope fellow, and see what he, and his organization are about...maybe they can help me out if these guys and gals are so afeared of him. I must be the only Republican in North Carolina who has very rarely visited the website.
I love how Democrats (mostly Progressive in Nature) seem to say the Republicans are seeking to promote fear and hatred in the people, when nearly everything the Democrats say is engineered to bring about those very things.
I'd call that a classic case of psychological projection.
Also...my parting shot: This clearly shows that the Edwards Campaign has no clue. If they had ignored the story, it would have gone away, instead...they brethed life into it, and gave it a sportscar to drive!
All quotes except one, are taken from this story on BlueNC. (Carolina Blue!)
Example One:
1. A UNC student approached Edwards campaign under what were probably false pretenses to do a hit piece. The campaign cooperated.Notice the author is already assigning motives.
2. The student produced a video, which was judged by a Republican faculty member to be fair and balanced. The dean of the UNC J-School also signed off. Apparently neither (they are husband and wife) put much stock in accuracy. The video opens with a factual error about the Southern Village being the most expensive part of Chapel Hill, which is simply not true.I suppose if the faculty member had been Democrat, the author would have tried another smear tactic by dif\gging something up from the faculty member's past.
Folks, the author (as almost all Neostalinists do, first try to discredit the messenger, following the Saul Alinsky playbook by the letter. I will say that I am shocked that a Republican has managed to survive in the UNC School of Journalism without being tarred and feathered and rode out of town on a rail...but wait, maybe I have spoke too soon, I expect that this is the beginning of the process!
3. When they found about about the video, the Edwards campaign then contacted the student and the faculty adviser. According to those two, the campaign demanded the video be pulled and threatened the student. No names were given and no direct quotes were offered to back the claims of "demands" and "threats."
See, now that the author has {apparently) destroyed the credibility of the video producer and the J-Schhol perps, they can safely assign the Edwards people the role of "victim"...a very necessary step in the progressive movement for achieving sainthood.
Did the Edwards campaign behave badly in this? Probably, but there's only the word of a Republican faculty member and a seemingly Bushbot student to go on, so you'll forgive me if I'm a bit skeptical. But even if they did, is it the proper role of a state-supported blog and a state employee to ignite and fan the flames of controversy?Notice the deflection, or at least mitigation of any claim that the Edwards Campaign did anything wrong? And then the utter assumption of guilt is placed on the "Republican" faculty member, and then a baseless accusation that the student is a Bushbot (probably an offshoot of the dreaded fembots) that should result in the conviction and banishment of the journalism student.
A bit skeptical?!? The author obviously went in the wrong direction when choosing an adverb, using "bit" instead of "very".
Also, when I hear someone say "proper role," I know am about to hear pure, unmitigated crap flow from someone's mouth. The author notices that the blog is state-supported (therefore is supposed to be friendly to lefties) and that the faculty member is employed by the state (how on earth did a Republican slip through the key system that is supposed to prevent hiring anyone on the right who is not a weenie?), and implying that perhaps that person should niot be employed by the state. That is where lefties always excell, with the implied use of force against their opponents, if not by themselves, then enlisting the state to do their bidding.
Then as a parting shot:
Note to J-School: You know all those solicitations you send me for contributions? You might want to save yourself some postage in the future.Because the J-School isn't ideologically pure, then a threat is issued to with hold funds (and the very posting is supposed to put the idea into other potential donors heads to copy that threat) which we know the modern education system can never get enough of, even if they had printing presses printing Ben FRanklins by the bushel.
At least the author was taken to task by some of the commentators, one of whom knew the student reporter, and did not know she was a Republican until they read it somewhere else; and the author did withdraw the charge.
Source: Comment Section
For the record, the faculty adviser, Leroy Towns, used to be a senior staffer and campaign manager for Senator Pat Roberts (R) of Kansas. Wrapping up the sad saga this morning, Towns posts to his own taxpayer-supported blog in an attempt to turn the travesty into a "teachable moment.* A
Dig deep enough and you will find old good Art Pope up to his camel ass in this little plot since he can't get control of UNC......If it walks like a Pope, talks like a Pope, than it has to be a Pope
One false charge is disposed of, and another specter must be summoned to keep the hate (or fear, I'm not sure which) flowing: Art Pope. I must look up this Art Pope fellow, and see what he, and his organization are about...maybe they can help me out if these guys and gals are so afeared of him. I must be the only Republican in North Carolina who has very rarely visited the website.
I love how Democrats (mostly Progressive in Nature) seem to say the Republicans are seeking to promote fear and hatred in the people, when nearly everything the Democrats say is engineered to bring about those very things.
I'd call that a classic case of psychological projection.
Also...my parting shot: This clearly shows that the Edwards Campaign has no clue. If they had ignored the story, it would have gone away, instead...they brethed life into it, and gave it a sportscar to drive!
Conservative Groups Counter-Protest "Code Pink" in Smithfield
Smithfield NC -- A large protest, and a larger counter-protest caused local police to be out in full-force today here. Yet, no violence occured. Harsh words were lobbied to and fro but in the end, the event ended just as it began, passion-filled and peacefully.
Katy's Conservative Corner has a number of interviews, both with the Code Pink and Victims of Torture protestors, along with counter-protestors from a Gathering of Eagles and Rolling Thunder. Up to 40 different groups were represented.
Eric M. Weaver, Sr. and your blogger covered all the action. Watch the interviews here, and look for more reporting and photos soon.
Source Article: Katy's Conservative Corner
Cross posted from Thunder Pig.Candidates for Sylva Town Board Respond to Survey
Here is what caught my eye:
More Info on the candidates: The Smoky Mountain News
Commentary
Source: The Sylva Herald and Ruralite
1. With the town recently receiving $3.5 million from the clean water management fund, what do you think is the best approach to handling that money?
Allen: My thinking is to bank the $3.5 million and use the interest wisely for such things as special projects and needs.
Beck: I believe we should invest the money in interest-bearing accounts and only use the interest to do improvement projects, such as to expand our road, water and sewer networks.
Graham: The plan that the town currently has to invest the money and spend only the annual interest seems very sound to me, in that it ensures financial security for Sylva’s future. The interest alone will be a nice boost to the town’s budget.
Lewis: There is nothing pressing at this time that the town needs, so I would suggest the town have an interest-bearing account, and we can come up with projects to spend the interest on.
Moody: The town board has discussed this at length and agreed that the $3.5 million should be invested with only the interest being spent. With this approach, the $3.5 million, like the Conservation Easement, will last forever and benefit the town in the future.
More Info on the candidates: The Smoky Mountain News
Commentary
Now this is a refreshing perspective for candidates for a town board! Their first thought to "found" money is to invest it, using the capitalist system to make money off money. Contrast that with the spending schemes of other town councils including, most famously, Asheville, NC.
If only our elected Representatives in Washington, DC felt that way...this nation would be in much better hands that it is in now.
North Carolina's Fern Shubert on Glenn Beck
I covered her appearance on Thunder Pig, for those interested.
Mountain Xpress Fires Cecil Bothwell
On Wednesday, Oct. 17, Mountain Xpress reporter Cecil Bothwell was tapped for the second time as Asheville’s best local print reporter in the paper’s 2007 annual reader poll. Two days later, the journalist was called to the publisher Jeff Fobe’s office and fired.
“It was almost funny,” Bothwell reported. “After winning the vote, I half-way imagined that a summons to Fobes’ office might involve a raise; instead Fobes and Managing Editor Jon Elliston told me they had decided to terminate my employment.”
Source: Blog Asheville
Commentary
According to the article author, a campaign donation to Elaine Lite precipitated the firing.
Huh? As much as I dislike Elaine Lite, I would not fire an employee for that reason...most especially if I were running a socialist newspaper like the Mountain Xpress. I think it is something else, and that reason is just a dodge.
Somebody with the writing skills of Cecil Bothwell will land on his feet somewhere.
