What do you think of the flag ceremony complaint?

Question

California veterans are up in arms over a ban on the flag-folding ceremony at 125 national ceremonies following a complaint.
The Memorial Honor Guard folds the American flag 13 times. Those folds were originally meant to represent the 13 colonies, but now hold secondary meanings such as life, eternal life, departed veterans, etc., the Chico Enterprise Record reports.

But a complaint about the 11th fold — representing the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon, and veterans say, meant to honor Jewish troops — prompted the National Cemetery Administration to halt the ceremony in the state's 125 national cemeteries, the paper reported.
"Every time we turn around, something else is going down," John Schultz, a Chico, Calif.-veteran, told the paper. "Next they'll be asking us to take all the crosses and flags out of the cemeteries, too."


http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,306186,00.html

http://www.usa-patriotism.com/reference/flag_folding.htm

Answer 1

So really, the complaint is that specifically Jewish veterans are honored at a Government function.

Since Jewish not only refers to the religion but also an ethnicity, I don't see why this is an issue at all. Would anybody complain if it honored a different ethnicity? Say hispanic or african american? Is it because the US doesn't have "Jewish Heritage Month" that people see it as strictly a religion?

I have no problem with anything that honors veterans of ANY race, religion, creed, or color whether at a government function or not. This group isn't even singled out in the flag folding ceremony. Other veterans are honored too. Yes, the US has seperation of church and state, but that doesn't mean we should honor and respect others of varying religions publically.

*EDIT*
According to the second link that was added, this is an UNOFFICAL flag ceremony. So if it's UNOFFICIAL it shouldn't have anything to do with anything. Unoffically, people should be able to do whatever they want to do. The Flag is a symbol of the United States, and one of the principles of the US Consitution is Freedom of Expression. Since when is it okay to ban that?!

Answer 2

The folds actually have no meaning. I did alot of research on this subject for a speech and it turns out that that is a common miss conception. When I served on the Honor guard for the Air Force we used to use that script for retirements but we had to stop. The Air Force decided that that script was not authorized to be used for official functions. The addition of the meanings of the folds where given by a military chaplain at a funeral but where never anything official. I actually agree with this decision because I personally believe that the flag should be folded in silence at a funeral.

On a side not I am kind of wondering why this Vet group is doing the flag fold at so many funerals. By military regualtion every branch is required to send a funeral team to perform military honors for vets and retirees from its branch. Vet organizations are supposed to only be used to supplement an active duty team upon request.

Answer 3

California sucks. Since I was born there i hate to say that but its true. I am not a religious person but if something historical has some basis in religion it should stay that way. You cant rewrite history to serve your personal feelings. It is what it is. I'm sick of the government kowtowing to all these fringe groups, hell any group, making changes to satusfy a vocal minority. This country was founded on freedom OF religion not freedom FROM religion. I am a veteran who chooses not to worship in any organized church, but I respect those who wish too. THEY have rights too and I would stand up to defend thier right to do so again.

Answer 4

The original 13 folds were to signify the 13 original colonies
Any other meanings are personal and they should remain that way

We continue to worry the little things

Answer 5

Whatever moron runs the National Cemetery Administration should be voted out of office. Or if he's appointed, then the politician who appointed him should fire him. And if he doesn't, then that politician should be voted out of office. And if the people of California won't do that, then decent people should move out of California. (Although actually, they should have done that already.)

If a judge was responsible for this nonsense, then the judge should be removed from the bench.

Answer 6

This applies only in CA. All traditions of this country and military must cease should it relate in any form of religion. Sad isn't it. Most of the snivelers who support this have nothing what so ever to do with it, however they want to change things for everyone else for their own good. Why not concentrate on something productive for themselves instead of looking for more to destroy.

Wow, either it wasn't read thoroughly or my meaning was misunderstood. Perhaps I should have started with:

Another attempt by a group for no personal gain, just the loss of traditions for the military. If we lose they gain. That is just arrogance on their part.

Answer 7

I have been at ceremonies where they had a different meaning for every fold...different from the ceremony before that one, different from the ceremony after....sounds like it was a slow news day...which in its own way is a good thing.

Answer 8

I think I feel sorry for people who are determined to find something to be offended about. A complaint about a flag fold? Honestly. There are more important things in life to focus on.

Answer 9

"the 13-fold recital is not part of the U.S. Flag Code and is not government-approved."

What they need to do, it put the 13 folds in as part of the US Flag Code (for the 13 colonies) and approve this for military funerals. Then people can make the 13 folds mean whatever they want it to mean to them.

Answer 10

It is BS. period. With all the crazy laws getting written in CA they are gonna wind up with some real pain next election. I dont theink Arnold will "Be Back" for another term.