LifeNRA Posted October 26, 2007 Report Share Posted October 26, 2007 What is up with this!!! :mad: In the latest attack on Christianity, the U.S. government has banned the flag-folding recitations at all 125 national cemeteries. The banning came as the result of one complaint! The situation is similar to that in which one person removed prayer from schools. This article from The Associated Press explains the situation: Complaints about religious content have led to a ban on flag-folding recitations by Veterans Administration employees and volunteers at all national cemeteries. At thousands of military burials, VA volunteers have folded the American flag 13 times and recited the significance of each fold to survivors. The 11th fold glorifies "the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” The 12th glorifies "God the Father, the Son and Holy Ghost." Citing a need for uniformity, the National Cemetery Administration has prohibited unpaid VA volunteers as well as employees from conducting the recital at all 125 national cemeteries. American Legion attorney Rees Lloyd calls it "another attempt by secularist fanatics to cleanse any reference to God." Following one complaint, the Veterans Administration has made anti-Christian bigotry the law of the land. The U.S. government has bowed to pressure from one radical anti-Christian secularist. Allowed to stand, the action by the Veterans Administration, in essence, means that anti-Christian bigotry is now the accepted and approved law of the land. Take Action Sign the petition to President Bush asking him to rescind the action to ban the recitation now in use. It will immediately go to the White House. Please forward this to your friends and family and urge them to sign the petition. https://secure.afa.net/afa/activism/TakeAction.asp?id=270 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted October 27, 2007 Report Share Posted October 27, 2007 done. and i hope it's done again 10 million times. what a crock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeNRA Posted October 28, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2007 done. and i hope it's done again 10 million times. what a crock Thank you Steve! Are we the only two that thinks this is crazy? I remember them saying the prayers at my grandfathers funeral. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TreeStandBowHunter Posted October 28, 2007 Report Share Posted October 28, 2007 I really don't what this means. When I was stationed up in Massachusetts from 2004-2007, I did a good 70 funerals for Vets and we never did any of that even when we did them at the Bourne National Cemetery at Cape Cod. After the preacher got done talking, our rifle team did their thing, the bugler did his thing and we folded and presented the flag to the next of kin...that was it. There was never any prayer besides coming from the preacher so I don't know enough to agree or disagree with this. I never knew that they did this and I did a bunch of funerals. Sorry.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OJR Posted October 28, 2007 Report Share Posted October 28, 2007 ??????????? I really don't what this means. When I was stationed up in Massachusetts from 2004-2007, I did a good 70 funerals for Vets and we never did any of that even when we did them at the Bourne National Cemetery at Cape Cod. After the preacher got done talking, our rifle team did their thing, the bugler did his thing and we folded and presented the flag to the next of kin...that was it. There was never any prayer besides coming from the preacher so I don't know enough to agree or disagree with this. I never knew that they did this and I did a bunch of funerals. Sorry.... I have also been involved with several military funerals over the years and have never seen anything like what is being described here! If I remember correctly, any petition on the internet is NOT worth the keystrokes to sign it! They are NOT valid! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeNRA Posted October 28, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2007 I have also been involved with several military funerals over the years and have never seen anything like what is being described here! If I remember correctly, any petition on the internet is NOT worth the keystrokes to sign it! They are NOT valid! Whatever Orlan, they did say a prayer for each fold at my Grandfather's funeral. I was standing right next to them while they did it. He served in WWI, maybe they stopped this a while back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TreeStandBowHunter Posted October 28, 2007 Report Share Posted October 28, 2007 He served in WWI, maybe they stopped this a while back! I don't know but you have me wanting to know the history of this now. I am going to research this and ask around at work. Maybe it depends where your at too when being buried, I don't know. From what I gathered, Military personnel always did the flag folding and what not. I am trying to picture myself back out there and I really don't know if I would want to have to say a prayer at each fold either. Did the Military member say the prayer or the preacher? I am curious now:confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeNRA Posted October 29, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2007 I was about 10 years old when he died. Going back 34 years, I am pretty sure the person folding the flag was saying this. Times might have changed Mike that they don't do this anymore, I really don't know. That was the only military funeral I was ever at. I got this in an email from another organization I have email alerts for. This shows and tells why the flag is folded this way, http://www.usflag.org/foldflag.html Here are some places I have found that reported this! http://www.topix.com/religion/christian/2007/10/federal-government-bans-flag-folding-recitations-following-one-complaint http://www.afa.net/flagfolding.htm http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Federal+Government+Bans+Flag-folding+Recitations&btnG=Google+Search Flag Folding Ceremony The flag folding ceremony described by the Uniformed Services is a dramatic and uplifting way to honor the flag on special days, like Memorial Day or Veterans Day, and is sometimes used at retirement ceremonies. Here is a typical sequence of the reading: (Begin reading as Honor Guard or Flag Detail is coming forward). The flag folding ceremony represents the same religious principles on which our country was originally founded. The portion of the flag denoting honor is the canton of blue containing the stars representing the states our veterans served in uniform. The canton field of blue dresses from left to right and is inverted when draped as a pall on a casket of a veteran who has served our country in uniform. In the Armed Forces of the United States, at the ceremony of retreat the flag is lowered, folded in a triangle fold and kept under watch throughout the night as a tribute to our nation's honored dead. The next morning it is brought out and, at the ceremony of reveille, run aloft as a symbol of our belief in the resurrection of the body. (Wait for the Honor Guard or Flag Detail to unravel and fold the flag into a quarter fold--resume reading when Honor Guard is standing ready.) The first fold of our flag is a symbol of life. The second fold is a symbol of our belief in the eternal life. The third fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veteran departing our ranks who gave a portion of life for the defense of our country to attain a peace throughout the world. The fourth fold represents our weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in times of war for His divine guidance. The fifth fold is a tribute to our country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, "Our country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right; but it is still our country, right or wrong." The sixth fold is for where our hearts lie. It is with our heart that we pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The seventh fold is a tribute to our Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that we protect our country and our flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our republic. The eighth fold is a tribute to the one who entered in to the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day, and to honor mother, for whom it flies on mother's day. The ninth fold is a tribute to womanhood; for it has been through their faith, love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great have been molded. The tenth fold is a tribute to father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of our country since they were first born. The eleventh fold, in the eyes of a Hebrew citizen, represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon, and glorifies, in their eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The twelfth fold, in the eyes of a Christian citizen, represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in their eyes, God the Father, the Son, and Holy Ghost. When the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost, reminding us of our national motto, "In God we Trust." (Wait for the Honor Guard or Flag Detail to inspect the flag--after the inspection, resume reading.) After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat, ever reminding us of the soldiers who served under General George Washington and the sailors and marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones who were followed by their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States, preserving for us the rights, privileges, and freedoms we enjoy today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TreeStandBowHunter Posted October 29, 2007 Report Share Posted October 29, 2007 Well I guess I don't have to research any further...thanks John:D That's interesting. My thinking is that it was not really practiced any longer anyway except at a very few National cemeteries. When we went down to Arlington last year, they didn't do it there either. That's good to know information though, thanks for sharing;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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