[tejas1967]

At last scout round table we did the whole thing about the U.S. Flag. One thing that was asked was "Were did the current flag folding come from". I have searched all over and can't find anything. Hope some one can help. Thanks.

[sarahw]

I think this may be one of those questions that doesn't really have an answer, or at least a satifying one. It seems to be a matter of, "that's the way it's always been done."

A search of flag folding history on the Internet will give you an idea of some of the ways that people have tried to explain the fold in the past. The Army's guide to heraldry refers to the shape as a "cocked hat," which suggests the design may have come from the three-cornered hat worn by the patriots of the American revolution (the triangle shape has three sides like the hat did). This seems the most legitimate reasoning, but it's probably just a coincidence.

Others have tried to place meaning on the fact that 13 folds are needed to make the triangle shape: fold in half lengthwise twice, then fold the triangle shape 11 times. Thirteen, of course, is a symbolic number for the number of the original colonies. Some have gone even further to say that each fold has a particular meaning, but taking those meanings as the reason the flag is folded 13 times is considered an urban legend.

So why the triangle shape? I always thought it was just because it looked really cool with just the stars on the outside. It's a beautiful way to store the flag in a case and frankly looks a lot nicer than if the stripes were part of the fold. "Because that's the way it's always been done" is a good enough answer for me.

Sarah