Flag Folding

As an Army and Navy custom, the flag is lowered daily at the last note of retreat. Special care should be taken that no part of the flag touches the ground. The Flag is then carefully folded into the shape of a tri-cornered hat, emblematic of the hats worn by colonial soldiers during the war for Independence. In the folding, the red and white stripes are finally wrapped into the blue, as the light of day vanishes into the darkness of night.

This custom of special folding is reserved for the United States Flag alone.

How to fold the Flag

Step 1

To properly fold the Flag, begin by holding it waist-high with another person so that its surface is parallel to the ground.

Step 2

Fold the lower half of the stripe section lengthwise over the field of stars, holding the bottom and top edges securely.

Step 3

Fold the flag again lengthwise with the blue field on the outside.

Step 4

Make a triangular fold by bringing the striped corner of the folded edge to meet the open (top) edge of the flag.

Step 5

Turn the outer (end) point inward, parallel to the open edge, to form a second triangle.

Step 6

The triangular folding is continued until the entire length of the flag is folded in this manner. Only one person does this triangular folding; your partner ceremoniously and patiently holds the other end (ensuring that it doesn't touch the floor!).

Step 7

All you've got left is the final fold--the tricky turn that some argue is at the crux of the whole operation. Instead of you folding the thick triangle of folded flag fabric over the last remaining blue square, your partner--who has waited for you so patiently--finally gets to do some creasing. The person on the union end of the flag will take the corner on the open leg and fold it down along the edge of the other leg to form a triangle. He or she then tucks the remaining blue tab under the folds of the thick triangle until the flag is a neat triangle and can't easily unravel. When the flag is completely folded, only a triangular blue field of stars should be visible.

Store the flag in a safe place, and when you want to raise it or use it again, unfold it using these steps in the opposite direction. Now, sit back and enjoy the fireworks!

Flag Folding Ceremony

The flag folding ceremony described by the Uniformed Services is a dramatic and uplifting way to honor the flag on special days, like Memorial Day or Veterans Day, and is sometimes used at retirement ceremonies.
(Begin reading as Honor Guard or Flag Detail is coming forward).
(Wait for the Honor Guard or Flag Detail to unravel and fold the flag into a quarter fold--resume reading when Honor Guard is standing ready.)
(Wait for the Honor Guard or Flag Detail to inspect the flag--after the inspection, resume reading.)