U.S. #5655
2022 58¢ U.S. Flags
Issue Date: January 9, 2022
First Day City: Findlay, OH
Type of Stamp: Definitive
Printed by: Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method: Offset, Microprint
Format: Coil of 3,000 OR Coil of 10,000
Self-Adhesive
Quantity Printed: 15,000,000 OR 100,000,000
A woman named Glynis Seeley once said, "You don't know what the [American] flag really means until you've been handed a folded one." She was referring to the flag-folding ceremony completed at the funeral of a member of the armed forces. The branch of service who performs the flag folding is the same branch the soldier was a part of. Once folded, the flag is then presented to the next of kin or other family member of the soldier. The presenter then recites "On behalf of the president of the United States, [the branch of service], and a grateful nation, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one's honorable and faithful service."
When folding an American flag, precisely 13 folds are made, with each representing a different principle. The folds honor life, veterans, mothers and fathers, God, and more. The flag is folded twice lengthwise, making sure the stars on the blue field remain outward. The third fold begins a series of triangle folds ending with the remaining portion of the flag neatly tucked in. The final shape is meant to remind us of the three-corner hat popular during the Revolutionary War and the beginning of our great country.
Our flag is more than just a symbol of our country. It is a symbol of the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much to keep us safe... and free.