9/13 Board Meeting Flag Folding Ceremony

During the September 13th board meeting, the Treasure Coast High School JROTC performed a flag folding ceremony for those in attendance.

For more than 200 years, the American flag has been the symbol of our nation’s unity, as well as a source of pride and inspiration for millions of citizens. 

Born on June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress determined that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternating between seven red and six white; and that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field representing a new constellation.  

Between 1777 and 1960, the shape and design of the flag evolved into the flag presented before you today. The 13 horizontal stripes represent the original 13 colonies, while the stars represent the 50 states of the Union. 

The colors of the flag are symbolic as well; red symbolizes hardiness and valor; white signifies purity and innocence; and blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice. 

Traditionally, a symbol of liberty, the American flag has carried the message of freedom, and inspired Americans, both at home and abroad. 

1. The first fold of our flag is a symbol of life. 
2. The second symbolizes the words of Thomas Paine when he stood in the Second Virginia Convention at St Johns Church in Virginia and spoke the words that ring true in every American patriot’s heart, “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death”
3. The third is made in honor and remembrance of the veterans departing our ranks, and who gave a portion of their life for the defense of our country and to attain peace. 
4. The fourth stands for the duty of all to preserve our Liberty en masse. As Thomas Jefferson said “Educate and Inform the whole mass of the people for they are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty”
5. The fifth fold is a tribute to our country. 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.”
6. The sixth fold is for where our hearts lie. It is with our hearts 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.
7. 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 enemies. They are true heroes who have given their lives for something bigger than themselves.
8. The eighth fold is a tribute to those who entered into the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day, and to honor our mothers, those who give their hearts and soul to the nurture of patriots, for whom our flag flies on Mother’s Day.
9. The ninth fold is a tribute to our missing, imprisoned, and lost brothers and sisters in arms. The flag for which they gave so much, some the ultimate sacrifice, may it always fly high and proud in their honor.
10. The tenth fold is a tribute to father, who modeled agape love for their mother as well as to his country, for he too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of our country since he or she was first born.
11. The eleventh fold memorializes all of our fellow American’s lost on that fateful day in Sept of 2001. In the words of Jeff Parness, “When Americans lend a hand to one another, nothing is impossible. We’re not about what happened on 9/11. We’re about what happened on 9/12” Liberty and Freedom like Patriots are always on duty.
12. The twelfth fold, stands for the words of Thomas Jefferson as he wrote the Declaration of Independence saying, “: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” We are only guaranteed the right to pursue and must protect and defend our great flag and the freedoms for which it stands in order to assure this pursuit may be undertaken my generations of Americans to come.
13. The thirteenth fold represents the ideals of the 13 original colonies of personal and religious freedoms in a land of plenty. When completely folded, the stars of our flag are uppermost, reminding us of our national motto, “In God We Trust.”