Folding the Colors

Folding the Colors- Folding of the colors can be done as a four, six, or eight man
fold.  Commands are usually silent nods from the leader of the fold team.  This
person is located at the head of the casket above the field of stars.  Members will
post at the four corners of the casket once the pallbearers have placed the casket
and the pallbearers have cleared the area.  Members will stand guard over the
casket throughout the graveside services.  Once the time has come to fold the flag,
the team leader will nod slightly.  This tells the other team members to reach down
and remove the cord that is securing the flag to the casket.  The cord is gathered by
one team member and placed on the ground in an out of the way spot.  The second
nod tells team members to grasp the corners of the flag and pull them taught.  The
third nod tells the team to side step so that the flag is between the audience and the
casket.  This is the time when other team members may enter to aid with the folding
of the flag.  They will position themselves evenly down each side of the flag.  The
fourth nod starts the first fold.  Remember, stripes over stars, stars over stripes.
Each member slides his inside hand to the center of the flag.  Then the edges are
brought up and together.  The stripe side is then turned up.  The fifth nod starts the
second fold.  The inside hands are again brought to the middle and the edges are
brought up and together.  When the flag is flattened, the stars are now showing
(thus, stripes over stars, stars over stripes).  The sixth nod initiates the beginning
of the triangular fold of the flag.  One of the team members at the striped end begins
by folding the folded edge of the striped end toward the open edge.  This will create
a pointed end, which is then folded parallel up the open edge to square the end again.
This is repeated until the flag reaches the end of the field of stars.  As the fold leaves
a member's hands and is passed off, that member will bring his hands down and assume
the position of attention.  Once at the end, the remaining margin is folded so that it will
tuck into the pocket formed by the folds at the blue field edge of the flag.  The team
leader then cradles the flag in his arms and allows the rest of the team to salute the flag.
The team leader then presents the flag to the widow, the fire chief, or union president,
or designee.  He also salutes the flag and then follows his team out of that area. 
Remember, never relinquish or accept a flag without a salute, if you are in full
uniform.

Things to remember!

1.  Get to the gravesite far in advance to plan the entrance, folding area, and
exit of the team.  Remember that you will have many mourners at the gravesite.
Keep the entrance and exit EASY, or your path may be blocked.  If your
path is blocked, think on your feet, have a back up plan for entrance and exit.

2.  Make sure you know which way the casket will be placed above the vault.
This determines the direction of the flag in relation to the audience, your
entrance, and the spoil pile.

3.  Make sure your folding area is big enough.  Remember that flowers will
be placed on the ground in front of the casket on the audience side.  Sometimes
you may even have to remove the first row of chairs before mourners arrive.

4.  If you can practice with the actual flag that will be used, DO SO.  Manufacturers
are not consistent in their lengths and widths of flags.  This will allow you to know
when to stop folding and when to be prepared to tuck the final portion of flag into
the triangle.

5.  Take your time!  The slower you go, the more accurate you will be, and the
more professional you will look.  If you made a mistake, correct it.  Show no
evidence of the mistake in your face or actions.  The family appreciates what
you do, and no one is perfect.  If handled with decorum and grace, no one will
even know of the mistake but you (and a few Honor Guard members that will
razz you about it for the rest of your career).