Military Funerals Must Now Include 13-Fold Recitation with Religious Content—Unless Families Opt Out.

This legislation mandates a specific, detailed recitation during the folding of the U.S. flag at military funeral honors. Specifically, it requires that the funeral detail recite the “13 Folds of Honor” statement—a text that assigns a symbolic meaning to each fold, including explicit references to God, Christianity, Judaism, and the concept of eternal life—whenever presenting a flag for a deceased service member or veteran. This new requirement is dedicated to the 13 service members killed in Kabul in August 2021.

The New Script for Military Honors

Under existing law, military funeral honors details fold the flag into a precise triangle. This bill doesn't change the physical folding process, but it adds a required script. The new recitation assigns specific religious and philosophical meaning to each fold. For example, Fold 4 acknowledges “our human weakness and turning to God for guidance,” Fold 11 represents “a lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon, glorifying God in the eyes of Hebrews,” and Fold 12 glorifies “God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in the eyes of Christians.” The final fold, Fold 13, reminds everyone of the national motto, “In God We Trust.” This means the default ceremony for a veteran's funeral will now include a lengthy, theologically specific narrative.

The Opt-Out Clause: Your Right to Choose

Here’s the crucial detail that makes this workable for everyone: the bill explicitly grants the next of kin or the person arranging the funeral the right to choose not to have the 13 Folds of Honor recitation spoken. They can elect to skip the entire script. This is a necessary provision, recognizing that not all veterans or their families adhere to the specific religious beliefs detailed in the required recitation. Imagine a veteran whose family is secular or follows a different faith; the default ceremony would now include expressions of belief they do not share. The opt-out clause ensures that the family maintains control over the tone of the ceremony, mitigating the imposition of a specific religious viewpoint during a government-provided service.

Real-World Impact on Families and Honor Guards

For families who embrace the specific patriotic and religious language, this bill provides a formalized, meaningful addition to the ceremony. It gives them a highly structured way to honor their loved one. However, for the funeral honors details, this adds complexity. They now have two scripts they must be prepared to deliver, and they must confirm the family's wishes before the ceremony begins. If the opt-out process isn't clearly communicated by the Department of Defense or Veterans Affairs, families might inadvertently receive the full recitation simply because they weren't aware they had the option to decline it. This puts the onus on the honors detail to ensure they respect the family's choice in what is already a highly sensitive and emotional moment. The bill creates a new standard for military honors, but its success hinges on clear communication about the opt-out provision.