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How to Properly Fold, Care for and Dispose Of the American Flag
Rate it! Votes (1) | Comments (0) By Cheri Sicard Posted August 6th, 2007 Cheri Sicard is the author of US Citizenship for Dummies, (2003, For Dummies)	US Citizenship for Dummies

According to the United States Flag Code, when the flag is lowered, no part of it should touch the ground or any other object; it should be received by waiting hands and arms. The flag should also be cleaned and mended whenever necessary.

Folding the Flag
A properly folded Flag ends up in the shape of a tri-cornered hat, symbolic of the hats worn by colonial soldiers during the war for Independence.

1. Start by holding the flag waist-high with another person so that its surface is parallel to the ground.
2. Fold the flag in half, lengthwise, bringing the lower striped section up to meet the upper field of blue.
3. Fold lengthwise again, keeping the blue field on the outside.
4. Make a triangular fold by bringing the striped corner of the folded edge to meet the top (open) edge of the flag.
5. Fold the outermost point on the right inward, parallel to the top open edge, which forms a second triangle.
6. Continue the triangular folding until the entire length of the flag is folded in this manner. When complete, only a triangular blue field of stars should be visible.

Burning the Flag
When a flag is so worn it is no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country, it should be destroyed by burning in a dignified manner. Check with your local American Legion Post before Flag Day, as most posts conduct flag burning ceremonies on June 14th.

The Boy Scouts of America share three flag burning ceremonies for proper retirement of worn flags at www.usscouts.org/usscouts/ceremony/flagret2.html.

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