When American flags fly high on their flagpoles, then instill a sense of patriotism in those who see them.  However, it is just as important to take proper care of flags when lowering and folding them.  For instance, the flag should not touch the ground.  If one should touch the ground, it should be ceremonially burned.  This is the same for a flag that is tattered, torn, or soiled.  The Boy Scouts are trained on care of the flag and hold numerous burning ceremonies for American flags each year.  They can help you properly dispose of a flag.

When lowering the flag, one person holds the end while the other carefully unhooks the second end.  Each person holds the flag by the corners.  They then step backwards and stretch out the flag so that it is basically flat in the air.  They fold the flag together twice, taking care to keep the stars showing.  The person with the striped end then begins to fold the flag triangularly and continues to do so until there is not enough of the flag left to allow for a complete triangular fold.

At this point, the other person will tuck the star end of the flag into the fold of the last triangle so that no part of the flag is hanging loosely.  It should then be placed in its proper container for storage until it is raised on the flagpole again.  By taking proper care of American flags, people show their patriotism for their country.

A properly proportioned flag will fold 13 times on the triangles, representing the 13 Original Colonies. When finally complete the triangular folded flag is emblematic of the tri-corner hat worn by the Patriots of the American Revolution. When folded no red or white stripe is to be evident leaving only the honor field of blue and stars.