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.

Legislative Summary: H.R. 3583

Title: 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.

Overview

H.R. 3583 is a legislative proposal to amend Title 4 of the United States Code. The primary intent of the bill is to standardize the presentation of the United States flag during military funeral honors by requiring the recitation of a specific narrative, known as the "13 Folds of Honor," during the folding and presentation of the flag.

The bill is explicitly dedicated to the 13 members of the Armed Forces who lost their lives at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, in August 2021.

Key Provisions

Mandatory Recitation of the 13 Folds of Honor

The bill mandates that any funeral honors detail presenting a folded U.S. flag to a deceased member of the Armed Forces or a veteran (under existing law) must recite a specific 13-part tribute. Each fold of the flag is associated with a specific symbolic meaning:
* Folds 1-3: Symbols of life, eternal life, and the remembrance of veterans.
* Folds 4-6: Tributes to divine guidance, patriotism (citing Stephen Decatur), and the pledge of allegiance.
* Folds 7-8: Tributes to the Armed Forces and those who faced the "valley of the shadow of death."
* Folds 9-10: Tributes to motherhood and fatherhood.
* Folds 11-13: Tributes to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; the Holy Trinity; and the national motto, "In God We Trust."

Opt-Out Provision

Recognizing the personal nature of funeral services, the bill includes a critical exception: the next of kin or an authorized agent of the deceased service member or veteran may elect to waive the recitation. If the family chooses to opt out, the 13 Folds of Honor will not be recited.

Who is Affected?

• Military Funeral Honors Details: Personnel responsible for folding and presenting the flag would be required to learn and recite the 13 Folds of Honor as part of their official duties.
• Service Members and Veterans: The bill applies to the funeral rites of members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are eligible for flag presentation under current law (including sections of Title 10 and Title 38).
• Bereaved Families: Families of the deceased are given the power to decide whether this specific ritual is included in the service.

Procedural Status

• Introduced: May 23, 2025
• Current Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.