This weekend we celebrate Memorial Day. When I was growing up it was called Decoration Day. I remember making the rounds of the cemeteries with my grandparents. We took flowers that grew in the yard to decorate the graves.

At first it was just the graves of my great-grandfather and my great-grandmother on the other side. Later it was all of my great-grandparents. I got to remove the dead flowers and get water. That was always my job.

On Decoration Day we attended the ceremony in the Fredonia cemetery. I did not like the speeches but the rest was fine. I remember hearing the twenty-one-gun salute. Everyone approached that with reverence but I never understood why.

When some things crossed my desk, I looked them up with another source to be sure I would get things right. The piece said that the twenty-one-gun salute comes from adding the numbers in 1776. I am not sure about this but it makes sense. I could not find another source for this. I did find out that the twenty-one-gun salute is fired while the flag is at half-staff. I guess everyone was remembering our forefathers when they were reverent.

Another thing that crossed my desk was the meaning of the folds of the flag at funerals. Veterans’ coffins may be draped with the American flag as a sign of honor. I have a flag that was folded for my first husband at his funeral. He served his country for seven years in the Army National Guard.

When my granddaughter and I attended the Memorial Day ceremony at the Russell Cemetery that year she pulled on my outfit when his name was mentioned. She definitely was listening and she was only four at the time.

All of the folds have meaning. Of course, there were diagrams of how to fold the flag.

The first fold is the symbol of life. The second fold is the belief in eternal life. The third fold stands in honor and remembrance of veterans departing their ranks who gave a portion of their lives to defend our country and to obtain peace throughout the world.

Fold number four represents the weaker nature – citizens trusting God. We turn to God in war and peace for divine guidance. Number five is in tribute to 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.”

Fold number six is where people’s hearts lie. It is with our hearts that we pledge allegiance to the flag of the U.S.A., and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Number seven is a tribute to the Armed Forces for through them we protect our country and her flag against all enemies – whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our republic.

The eighth fold is a tribute to the one who entered into the valley of the shadow of death. May we see the light of day. Number nine is in tribute to womanhood and Mothers. Through their faith, love, and loyalty the character of men and women have been molded.

Fold number ten is in tribute to the Father, who has given his sons and daughters for the country’s defense. The eleventh fold is for the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon. It glorifies the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The twelfth fold is the emblem of eternity and glorifies in Christian eyes, God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The last fold leaves the stars uppermost reminding of the nation’s motto “in God we trust”.

“When it is completely folded it appears like a hat reminding us of the soldier who served under General George Washington, the sailors and Marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones.” Rob Amsden

The colors of the flag are also symbolic. There are 13 stripes – 7 red and 6 white. There are fifty stars on a blue field – 5 rows of 6, and 4 rows of 5. The stripes remind us of the original thirteen colonies that gained liberty for us.

White signifies purity and innocence. Red stands for hardiness and valor. Blue signifies vigilance, perseverance, and justice.

I believe that this leaves little doubt about the origin of this nation and her loyalty. We are getting farther and farther from the way our country was designed to be.

We are a Christian nation. Anyone who comes here deserves to know that before they accept our way of life.

While it is true that we espouse freedom of religion it does not mean that the Christian background goes away. Others may worship as they please, but they must not meddle with the standard on which the U.S. was built.

Maybe we all need to be a little more vocal about this.

Ann Swanson writes from her home in Russell. Contact at hickoryheights1@verizon.net