flag folding
Triangle-making military ritual
Flag folding is the ceremonial method of folding a national flag, especially the American flag, into a compact triangular shape.
The U.S. military prescribes a specific thirteen-fold technique for retiring colors or presenting flags at funerals: The honor guard performed the flag folding with precision.
Each fold is sometimes assigned symbolic meaning, though these interpretations vary and aren't officially codified.
- color guardCeremonial banner-bearing unit
- clothWoven or knit material
- honor guardMilitary tribute formation
- white glovesPale formal handwear
- triangleThree-sided plane figure
memorial service · tradition · fold · thirteen · respect · military funerals · Arlington National Cemetery · edge · chaplain · bugler · reverence · burial at sea · final salute · solemnity · gravesite · tuck · precision · eulogy
- funeral ritesfuneral, bury, burial, funeral mass, burial rites
- ceremonieswedding ceremony, wedding, weddings, graduation, graduations
- patriotic displaysflagpole, parade, bunting, lapel pin, color guard
- patriotismnational anthem, national flags, love of country, patriotism, national symbols
- foldsfolds, fold, pleats, pleat, creases
- military ceremoniescolor guard, honor guard, presenting arms, salute, changing of the guard