To amend title 4, United States Code, to ensure that a funeral honors detail recites the 13 Folds of Honor when presenting a flag of the United States in connection with the death of a member of the Armed Forces or veteran.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3583 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3583

 To amend title 4, United States Code, to ensure that a funeral honors 
  detail recites the 13 Folds of Honor when presenting a flag of the 
  United States in connection with the death of a member of the Armed 
                           Forces or veteran.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 23, 2025

    Mr. Diaz-Balart (for himself, Mr. Rutherford, and Mr. Panetta) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                             the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend title 4, United States Code, to ensure that a funeral honors 
  detail recites the 13 Folds of Honor when presenting a flag of the 
  United States in connection with the death of a member of the Armed 
                           Forces or veteran.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. RECITATION OF 13 FOLDS OF HONOR.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that this Act 
be dedicated to the 13 members of the Armed Forces who were killed at 
Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, in August 
2021.
    (b) Requirement.--Chapter 1 of title 4, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new section (and conforming 
the table of sections for such chapter accordingly):
``Sec. 11. Recitation of 13 Folds of Honor
    ``(a) Requirement.--Except as provided by subsection (b), a funeral 
honors detail that presents a folded flag of the United States in 
connection with the death of a member of the Armed Forces or veteran 
under section 1491 of title 10, section 2301 of title 38, or other 
applicable provision of law, shall recite the following (to be known as 
the `13 Folds of Honor') as part of such presentment:
    ``The 1st fold of the flag is a symbol of life.
    ``The 2nd fold is a symbol of the belief in eternal life.
    ``The 3rd fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veterans 
departing the ranks who gave a portion of their lives for the defense 
of the country to attain peace throughout the world.
    ``The 4th fold represents the weaker nature, for as American 
citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as 
well as in the time of war for His divine guidance.
    ``The 5th fold is a tribute to the country, for 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.'.
    ``The 6th fold is for where people's hearts lie. It is with their 
heart that they pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of 
America, and the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, 
indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.
    ``The 7th fold is a tribute to its Armed Forces, for it is through 
the Armed Forces that they protect their country and their flag against 
all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries 
of their republic.
    ``The 8th fold is a tribute to the one who entered the valley of 
the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day.
    ``The 9th fold is a tribute to womanhood and Mothers. For it has 
been through their faith, their love, loyalty, and devotion that the 
character of the men and women who have made this country great has 
been molded.
    ``The 10th fold is a tribute to the father, for he, too, has given 
his sons and daughters for the defense of their country since they were 
first born.
    ``The 11th fold represents the lower portion of the seal of King 
David and King Solomon and glorifies in the Hebrews eyes, the God of 
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
    ``The 12th fold represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in 
the Christians eyes, God the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.
    ``The 13th fold, or when the flag is completely folded, the stars 
are uppermost reminding them of their Nation's motto, `In God We 
Trust.'.
    ``(b) Exception.--The next of kin or other agent of a deceased 
member of the Armed Forces or veteran may elect to not have the 13 
Folds of Honor recited under subsection (a).''.
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