Flag Folding Flap at Military Funerals
Political Correctness at It's Worst
But after a complaint was filed with the National Cemetery Association, the director, Steve Muro, banned the reading of the 13 Folds. He ordered cemetery directors to stop the readings. This occurred on September 27th of this year and has outraged both veterans and non-veterans alike.
When the hell is the pendulum going to swing the other way, back towards common sense, decency and majority rule? Right now it's almost pegging the far side of PC lunacy. This simple, yet powerfully moving ceremony gives great comfort to the deceased's loved ones. I have been personally involved in the flag-folding ceremony and can attest to the great symbolism conveyed. As a Vietnam vet and retired military member, I am not only outraged but totally disgusted with what we have in Washington, DC.
Muro is quoted as saying in a memo "There are no federal laws related to the flag that assign any special meaning to the individual folds of the flag. The National Cemetery Administration must not give meaning, or appear to give meaning to the folds of the flag by endorsing or distributing any handouts on 'The Meaning of Each Fold of an Honor Guard Funeral Flag."
What's Muro afraid of? The "reading" isn't something that was automatic in the past. If the family requested it, it was read. Plain and simple.
God forbid we give any meaning to closure in the life of a U.S. citizen who has died serving his or her country. God forbid we give any comfort to the family and loved ones of that soldier, sailor, airman.
I am not a religious person in the sense of organized religion and am approaching the agnostic stage. But I did serve, as did our dead military members, to defend and protect the Constitution of the United States and freedom of speech. If this flag-folding recitation helps in the grieving process, where's the harm?
To deny this simple reading at the military funeral is despicable, to say the least.
Published by Robert Douglas
Retired from the Air Force Medical Service, Vietnam Veteran, father of 2 children, grandfather of five girls, the ideal husband and a graduate of the Long Ridge Writers Group and AWAI Copywriter Courses. Fo... View profile
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3 Comments
Post a CommentI salute your service, sir. To answer a seemingly rhetorical question-there is no harm in it. It's something that represents traditional values and that is despised by a loud and corrupt ideology.
I believe the Dept of Veterans Affairs removed the ban shortly afterwards, due mostly to the extreme adverse publicity it generated. And rightfully so. Now the grieving family can request the flag-folding recitation.
Thank you for bringing this into the forefront - I was unaware of the controversial ban.