For or Against The Ban Of Folding The Flag At Military Funerals?

Question

One person in 200 years of tradition complained. Now it is banned.

Big Dawg: Serious! On the news today!

Link: http://www.cbc13.com/topstories/local_story_298131745.html

I stand corrected about the folding, but what good is the folding without hearing what each fold represents, example;the first fold represents life.........

Thanks TJTB, I hope you are right! Thanks to all of your positive answers, for the life of me I cannot feature the thumbs down. Idiocy, I would guess.

Answer 1

OK, here's the situation for all you people spouting off about liberals this and liberals that:

What happened is that somewhere somebody did a type up on the whole flag folding deal. Contained within was a typo saying the 11th fold of the flag was for "the Gods Abraham, Isaac and Jacob" instead of "glorifies the God OF Abraham, the God OF Isaac and the God OF Jacob". Because most people do not know the whole ritual behind the folds some may have been upset by the information they found. Someone raised complaint with this faulty information and so the knee jerk reaction from the gov't was to ban the practice. However, after it was thought through the ban was lifted.

People!!!! do some friggin research before you start spouting off! You don't have to politicize everything!

edit: thumbs down for actually knowing the whole story? i give up!!!

edit: With all the excitement I forgot to answer the question. I am against the ban. I still recall the funeral for my grandfather who served in WWII. When they folded the flag and then presented it to my grandmother was one of both the proudest and saddest moments of my life and it is something that will always stick with me.

Answer 2

I'm all for the folding of the flag and against banning it.

In all fairness though I have to clear up the facts of this situation, not to defend the ban, but to merely state what happened in case anyone is interested:
First, the ban was NOT for the folding of the flag but the recitation of the verse during the 11th fold referring to the Jewish reference being recited differently than it had been traditionally (this might have been a typo or it may have been done on purpose, not sure who to believe). It was the inconsistancy of the recitation that made the government ban the recitation until it was made uniform. It was a stupid move on the part of the government to not investigate first, then ban, rather than ban first, then investigate, then remove ban.
The problem was pin pointed and the ban lifted within 24 hours. It's lifted as we read this, but like all other governmental red tape it probably took a bunch of people and a million bucks to fix it.

Answer 3

I'm against the ban because it's a tradition that should never be violated. To me it's a personal thankyou from a greatful country to the veteran who gave his or her life for their country.Why is it so easy for people to forget that every soldier, sailor, marine and airman that falls, it was done so atheistic commie liberals can sit at home and play their x-boxes, and complain that the government isn't doing enough for (me,me,me).It's ok for footbathes to be put in public restrooms because it's a religious right for some, but ban the folding of the flag because each fold has a particular saying to the veterans religion.In my opinion if congress doesn't change it now, they will stand out as cowards and deserve no respect of their own.It's personal and has absolutely nothing to do with separation of church and state.Wake up people!!!

Answer 4

ABSOLUTELY AGAINST!!!!!! I heard it, too and am so angry about this!!! We have to take a stand and make our voices heard. Political Correctness has taken over where sanity left off! I am so tired of one person complaining and everyone jumping to change the rules so as not to offend anyone. I AM OFFENDED this time!! Our servicemen and women who so selflessly serve our Nation and who put their lives on the line for what they believe in should have the respect and honor shown to them for the sacrifices they have made. Those who have given their lives for us deserve to have the military flag folding ceremony left as it was. God is a part of most of our lives; we have the right to have spiritual and meaningful phrases left as is without someone taking that from us. How dare the Administration and the Veterans Administration (unbelievable!!) ban the original flag folding wording!! They should be ashamed and I can tell you that they will pay a very big price if they keep the ban in effect!!! There is a lot of public outrage at this move. Send the information to everyone you can think of and send those letters, e-mails and phone calls out to let them know that we will not stand for this!!

Answer 5

It's not the 'folding', it's the recitation of a...not sure what to call it...but there's dialog that goes with the folding. It's this dialog that the person had a problem with since it has a significant religious component that focuses on judeo and mainly christian beliefs. I can see this being an issue for non-judeo-christians.

However, why can't it be changed to accommodate the faith of the soldier being laid to rest AND being at the discretion of the family? The family is ALWAYS presented with the script of the service to be held. If they don't want it, I'm sure that those performing the ceremony would be happy to accommodate and fold the flag in silent respect to the man or woman being accorded this honor.

Answer 6

It makes me angry that one person or a very small minority has a say over what the majority of people want! I can understand if you don't want something at a loved ones funeral, then don't have it. But the flag folding ceremony was done at both my dad's and my grandfathers funerals, both who were in WW 2. And it's a damn shame that the traditions of our great country have been eroded away by nut cases that do nothing but complain about things. Why don't they just leave instead??

Answer 7

Well, to be fair, it's not the whole ceremony of folding the flag, it's just the recitation of the meaning of the folds, and it can still be done if requested, just not by the Honor Guard or anyone who works at the cemetery.

That said, I think it's ridiculous. If the families of the deceased don't want it, they don't have to have it, and if the families do want the Honor Guard to recite who are we to tell them, after what they've sacrificed for the country, that they can't have it because they might offend someone?

Answer 8

For I remember when I was a child my grandfather teaching me the folding of a flag and then seeing the flag on his coffin folded. This is PC gone amok again, a tradition that needs to stay no matter what the thought police want to say.

Answer 9

I wish I could send this to the idiot who complained and started this whole thing.

I think that if you are going to volunteer for the Honor Guard, you should know damned well what that entails. And if you're not willing to Honor the fallen in the way that THEY deserve, then don't volunteer for the Honor.

The funeral is not about YOU - it's about the person who died and their families. And if THEY want to hear the words, then YOU decide whether or not you can recite the words. If you can't, then YOU excuse yourself from the Honor Guard. You do not deny the comfort of those words to others.

The option to have the words recited should be left to the survivors. My $0.02.

Answer 10

Since when? The tradition covering of the casket with the flag is a Military tradition. The folding of the flag, and presentation to the spouse, or mother is the military showing the respect for the fallen, and for those retired who served this country with honor. EDIT: A military funeral is the most moving experience you can witness. Usually members of all Armed Forces of this country are present, The silence, movements, and the concern and respect shown is a sight you will never forget.