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Vets plan to ignore ban on flag-folding recitations

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October 26, 2007 11:12 PM    View printable version     Link to this comment   
Member Since:
February 24, 2007
Jim Brown OneNewsNow.comOctober 26, 2007 folded flag

An American Legion commander in California says he and other veterans will defy a newly imposed ban on flag-folding recitations that include references to God.

During thousands of military burials, Veterans Administration employees and volunteers have folded the American flag 13 times and recited the significance of every fold to survivors. The fourth fold, for example, refers to God's "divine guidance." The 11th fold glorifies "the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." And the 12th fold glorifies "God the Father, the Son and Holy Ghost." Now the National Cemetery Association has made a decision to ban flag-folding recitations by VA employees and volunteers at all 125 national cemeteries -- all because of one complaint about a ceremony at Riverside National Cemetery in California that included a reference to God.

Rees Lloyd is director of the California Defense of Veterans Memorials Project and part of a 16-member detail that has performed military honors at more than 1,400 services. He says veterans -- and in particular, American Legionnaires -- are outraged by the ban.

"It's outrageous," he says bluntly. "These are decisions that should be made by the families of our deceased veteran comrades and not by Washington bureaucrats -- and most certainly not by any narcissistic, disaffected, offended atheist, agnostic, or any other [person] who is upset or offended by the word 'God' or a religious symbol which might offend his delicate sensibilities."

Lloyd vows that even if there are "a hundred-million offended atheists," he and other American Legionnaires will stand against the ban.

"We will defy this ban, pure and simple," he states. "If the families ask us to recite the flag-folding ceremony, we will abide by the wishes of the family -- not [by the wishes of] some bureaucrat sitting in an air-conditioned office in Washington, DC, or some lawyer wearing a diaper back there whose main mission in life is to protect his own behind instead of standing up for the American people and saying enough is enough."

Lloyd, who is a California civil rights attorney, says he and his allies at the Alliance Defense Fund are considering their legal options.

All Original Content Copyright 2006-2007 American Family News Network - All Rights Reserved

 
October 27, 2007 11:04 AM    View printable version     Link to this comment   
Member Since:
February 14, 2007
AS IT SHOULD BE !!!!!!

Vote Responsibly and if you don't vote don't complain around me .
October 27, 2007 05:14 PM    View printable version     Link to this comment   
Member Since:
February 14, 2007

Good for the vets!  If the family doesn't want the recitation, I'm sure they are perfectly within their rights to request it not be done.  However, it's not the cemetery's nor the government's nor anyone else's beeswax to dictate individual policy.  BTW, if anyone isn't aware of what each fold represents, here's a good summary:  Symbols for the folds of the Flag

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 and who gave a portion of life for the defense of our country to attain 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 enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our republic.
 
The eighth 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, and to honor our 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 he or she was first born.
The eleventh fold, in the eyes of Hebrew citizens, 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.

When the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost, reminding us of our national motto, “In God We Trust.”

After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat, ever 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.


"A woman who demands further gun control legislation is like a chicken who roots for Colonel Sanders." Larry Elder
October 27, 2007 05:22 PM    View printable version     Link to this comment   
Member Since:
February 8, 2007
Im glad theyre ignoring it. It stinks.

Deport congress and the president!!
October 27, 2007 05:31 PM    View printable version     Link to this comment   
Member Since:
February 14, 2007

Im glad theyre ignoring it. It stinks.

Yes it does.  It stinks to high heaven.  And you KNOW banning the flag on a veteran's coffin can't be far behind.  Sooner or later, someone will complain that it's an outrageous and uncalled for display of "nationalism" or some stupid thing!



"A woman who demands further gun control legislation is like a chicken who roots for Colonel Sanders." Larry Elder

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