Military Flag Folding: The 13 Folds and What They Mean

At a military funeral, the honors detail folds the burial flag into a triangle with only the blue field and stars showing, then presents it to the veteran's next of kin. The triangular fold is a long-standing tradition, often called the 13-fold ceremony, but the Flag Code does not require it. The meanings sometimes read aloud for each fold are a recitation of unknown origin, not official military or VA policy, though families can ask for it.

What happens to the flag at a military funeral?

Under 10 U.S.C. 1491, a funeral honors detail for an eligible veteran must, at a minimum, fold a U.S. flag, present it to the veteran's family and play Taps. The detail must include at least two members of the armed forces (not in retired status) in uniform, and the VA says at least one is from the veteran's branch of service. Honors are not automatic, so your funeral director or a family member has to request them. Our guide to military funeral honors covers who qualifies and how to ask.

At Arlington National Cemetery, the order is the committal service, the rifle volley (if the honors include one) and Taps. Then the family is asked to be seated, the casket team leader folds the flag, and it is passed to the officer or non-commissioned officer in charge, who presents it to the next of kin. For more on the call that comes just before, see Taps at a military funeral.

How is the burial flag folded?

The American Legion describes the traditional method this way:

1. Straighten the flag to full length and fold it lengthwise once.
2. Fold it lengthwise a second time, keeping the blue field with its stars outward. A large flag may need a third lengthwise fold.
3. Start a triangular fold by bringing the striped corner of the folded edge to the open edge.
4. Turn the outer point inward, parallel with the open edge, to make a second triangle.
5. Keep making triangular folds toward the blue field until you reach the end. Only the blue shows, in the shape of a cocked (three-corner) hat.

The Legion says the Flag Code does not require any specific method, and that this folding is tradition. The VA's own press release refers to the "so-called 13-fold" recitation, which is where the name comes from. Arlington lists the burial flag as 5 feet by 9 1/2 feet.

The flag is folded in silence at a standard ceremony. The VA says traditional gravesite honors include the silent folding and presentation of the flag, a rifle salute and Taps.

What do the 13 folds mean?

You may have seen a list of meanings for each fold, often with religious language. This recitation is not part of official military procedure, and the traditional ceremony is performed without it. The American Legion states that the source and date of origin of the flag-folding procedure are unknown, that some sources attribute it to the Gold Star Mothers of America and others to an Air Force chaplain at the Air Force Academy, and that others consider it an urban legend.

What the Legion's text does say about the triangle is that the finished flag looks like a cocked hat, a reminder of the soldiers who served under George Washington and the sailors and Marines who served under John Paul Jones.

Can the family ask for words to be read?

At VA national cemeteries, yes. In October 2007, the VA clarified its policy on recitations during flag folding at a veteran's gravesite:

• Volunteer honor guards may read the "13-fold" recitation or any comparable script.
• The family needs to provide the material and request that it be read.
• Requests reflecting any religious tradition, or none, are accepted on an equal basis.

If the service is at a private cemetery or funeral home, ask your funeral director and the honors team what they can do. The traditional fold is silent, so you may want a family member, chaplain or officiant to read the words.

Who gets the flag, and who qualifies for one?

The flag is given to the next of kin after the burial. Under 38 U.S.C. 2301, if no one claims it, it may be given on request to a close friend or associate of the veteran. If it goes to a friend or associate, no flag is given to anyone else for that veteran.

To qualify, the veteran must meet the VA's service rules and must not have been discharged dishonorably. The VA says the veteran generally must have served in wartime, died on active duty after May 27, 1941, or served after January 31, 1955. Peacetime service before June 27, 1950 qualifies if the veteran completed at least one enlistment or left because of a service-related disability, and some members of the Selected Reserve qualify too. The VA lists next of kin and close friends as people who can apply.

To apply, fill out VA Form 27-2008, the Application for United States Flag for Burial Purposes. You can bring it to a funeral director, a VA regional office or a U.S. post office (call ahead, since not every post office stocks them). Most funeral homes will get the flag for you. Arlington says not to buy a burial flag and asks families to request one at the time of need. The VA cannot replace a flag that is lost, destroyed or stolen, though some veterans organizations may be able to help.

See our guide to veterans burial benefits for the rest of what the VA provides.

What if the veteran was cremated?

The VA provides the flag to drape a casket or to place with an urn. The American Legion says accepted practice when the service includes cremated remains is to fold the flag in the traditional triangle and place it next to the urn. Ask your funeral director how the honors detail will handle the flag at the service.

How should you care for and display the flag?

The VA's guidance for caring for a burial flag is short:

• Don't leave it outside for long periods, to avoid weather damage.
• Use and display it carefully so it can't be damaged.
• Don't add or attach words, symbols or drawings.
• Don't use it to hold or carry anything.

Some common questions have clear answers:

• Can you display the flag? The American Legion says a casket flag can be displayed or used for any proper display purpose, including flying it from a staff. If you want to keep the triangle, a display case is the easiest way. See our guide to choosing a veteran flag display case.
• Can you clean it? The Legion says the Flag Code does not prohibit washing or dry-cleaning, and the right method depends on the material.
• Do shell casings go inside the flag? Some families are told that three casings from the rifle volleys go inside the folded flag. That's a folk custom, not part of the official ceremony, and the Flag Code says the flag should never be used as a receptacle for anything. Our 21-gun salute guide explains what the volleys are.
• What if it touches the ground? The Legion says you are not required to destroy a flag that touches the ground, as long as it is still fit to display.
• What if you no longer want it? The VA says a flag in good condition can go to a national cemetery with an Avenue of Flags. A flag in any condition can go to a veterans service organization, which will retire a damaged one. The VA asks you not to send it back.

What to do next

1. Ask your funeral director to request military funeral honors and the burial flag (VA Form 27-2008).
2. Decide whether you want the 13-fold words read, and who will provide the text.
3. Decide how you want to keep the flag, such as in a case, and whether you'd like a separate flag for outdoor use.
4. Ask about a Presidential Memorial Certificate, a VA keepsake certificate that eligible families can request.