(Washington, DC) - Congressman Baron Hill is pleased with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) decision to ease its ban on the traditional flag-folding recitations by Memorial Honor Detail volunteers at military funerals.  The VA had previously enacted a blanket ban against using the traditional flag-folding recitations at military funerals.  However, the VA issued a memo yesterday to all cemetery directors in the National Cemetery Administration that states the 13-fold flag recitation will be allowed at military funerals if requested by the family. 

On Tuesday, Hill joined several of his Democratic colleagues in sending a letter to the Acting Secretary of the VA expressing his displeasure with the ban.   

“I found this policy extremely disconcerting and disturbing,” Hill said.  “That is why I joined with some of my Democratic colleagues in urging the VA Secretary to seriously reconsider this decision.”

When folding the flag that had covered a service member’s coffin, Memorial Honor Detail volunteers would recite the significance of each fold. The flag contains 13 folds. The 11th fold glorifies, “the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” The 12th glorifies, “God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.”  The VA recently announced an end to these traditional flag-folding recitations.

The letter asked the Acting Secretary, the Honorable Gordon H. Mansfield, to reconsider the policy and allow the Memorial Honor Detail volunteers to perform the traditional flag-folding recitation if requested by the family of the deceased.  In addition, the letter emphasized that the ability to have the recitations made by the Memorial Honor Detail is important to recognizing the right to freedom of speech and religion for which the veteran had fought.

“Many military families find comfort and solace in these words,” Hill said.  “And, I find it unwise and unfair to ban them from use.  I am pleased the VA has decided to leave this up to the discretion of the affected families.”

The entire text of the letter is below. It was authored by Rep. Health Shuler (D-NC), and co-signed by Hill and several other Democrats including: Rep. Chris Carney (D-PA), Brad Ellsworth (D-IN), Tim Holden (D-PA), Nick Lampson (D-TX), Jim Marshall (D-GA), Jim Matheson (D-UT), Mike McIntyre (D-NC), Mike Ross (D-AR) Gene Taylor (D-MS), and John Tanner (D-TN).

-30-

October 30th, 2007

The Honorable Gordon H. Mansfield
Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20420

Dear Acting Secretary Mansfield:

We are writing to express our concern regarding recently announced policies banning the traditional flag-folding recitations by Memorial Honor Detail volunteers.

The flag folding recitation is a longstanding tradition which brings comfort to the living and honor to the deceased. The recitations accompanying each fold pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of our veterans and their families, the nation they proudly serve, and the beliefs that they hold dear.

As our nation loses 1,500 World War II veterans every day, we feel it is vital to ensure that the final rites for these American heroes be permitted to include the freedoms of speech and religious expression enshrined in our Constitution and defended by their service.

We ask that you please reconsider the policy and allow the Memorial Honor Detail volunteers to perform the traditional flag-folding recitation if requested by the family of the deceased. If you have any questions regarding this issue, please contact Sean O’Brien in Congressman Shuler’s office at (202) 225-6401.