Helping Federal Employees and Annuitants Understand Their Benefits

 

Folding the American Flag

Step By Step Procedures


 

The rules for proper display and use of the U.S. flag are established by generally accepted custom and by Public Law 94-344 approved by Congress and signed by the President in 1976. The Flag Code does not impose penalties for the misuse of the flag. Such penalties are determined by the individual states and the District of Columbia.

Request flags from your representatives for federal employee's and retiring military retirements. Flags can be ordered in either nylon or cotton that have flown over the U.S. Capital. Each flag comes with a letter from the Architect of the Capital certifying the day the presentation flag was flown over the Capital Building. A flag that was presented to me at my retirement luncheon is 3' x 4' cotton and it displays nicely in a flag display case.

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Flag Folding Procedure

To properly fold the American flag, follow these directions:

  1. To begin, with one person at either end, hold the flag waist high so that's its surface is parallel to the ground.


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

     
  3. Fold the flag again lengthwise, now with the blue field on the outside.


     
  4. Make a triangular fold by bringing the striped corner of the folded edge to meet the open (top) edge of the flag. (It is easier if the person folding the flag takes one step forward before starting to fold the flag.)

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



     
  6. Continue the triangular folding until the entire length of the flag is folded in this manner.



     
  7. When the flag is completely folded, only a triangular blue field of stars should be visible. If a hem protrudes beyond the blue field, it should be neatly tucked inside the folds of the flag so that it does not show. The folded flag is then presented to the next of kin.


 

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