Gift of the Flag to the IHHers

Back in October or Novemeber our homeschooling group (Immaculate Heart Homeschoolers) sent care packages to soldiers in the Military. I included an envelope with our address in hopes we'd get a letter or two. We received a letter from Iraq and then recently we received a care package with a certificate and a US Flag from a soldier in Iraq.
The certificate says:

The Flag of the United States of America

Is Presented to
Immaculate Heart Homeschoolers

For your Support of Troops in Iraq

This Certifies that the accompanying flag was flown over

the Headquarters of the Multi-National Corps-Iraq in

your honor during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

31 December 2008

Signed XXX

CSM, USA

MNC-I CSM

Also Signed XXX

Lieuenant General, USA

Commanding

Here is the full sized flag.

HOW TO FOLD A FLAG! (the following explanation is taken from the link on How to Fold a Flag)
As an Army and Navy custom, the flag is lowered daily at the last note of retreat. Special care should be taken that no part of the flag touches the ground. The Flag is then carefully folded into the shape of a tri-cornered hat, emblematic of the hats worn by colonial soldiers during the war for Independence. In the folding, the red and white stripes are finally wrapped into the blue, as the light of day vanishes into the darkness of night.
This custom of special folding is reserved for the United States Flag alone.
(I wonder how other countries fold their flags?)

To properly fold the Flag, begin by holding it waist-high with another person so that its surface is parallel to the ground.



Fold the lower half of the stripe section lengthwise over the field of stars, holding the bottom and top edges securely.

Fold the flag again lengthwise with the blue field on the outside.

Make a triangular fold by bringing the striped corner of the folded edge to meet the open (top) edge of the flag.

Turn the outer (end) point inward, parallel to the open edge, to form a second triangle.

The triangular folding is continued until the entire length of the flag is folded in this manner.

When the flag is completely folded, only a triangular blue field of stars should be visible.

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I was very touched by this gift of the flag being flown "in our honor" and then being sent to us. Please spare a prayer particular for this kind soul.

God Bless America!