Traditions & Symbols
The Real Story Behind the Rituals
Coins on a headstone. The 13 folds of the flag. A callsign you didn't choose. Most of what gets passed around about these traditions is half-right, and some of the most repeated “facts” are quietly made up. Here's the real thing — and the myths, marked as myths.
Honors & Remembrance
Coins on Military Graves
What do coins on a military headstone mean?
The 13 Folds of the Flag
What do the 13 folds of the American flag mean?
The Three-Volley Salute vs. the 21-Gun Salute
Is the rifle salute at a military funeral a 21-gun salute?
The Missing Man Formation
What is the missing man formation flyover?
The POW/MIA (Missing Man) Table
What does each item on the POW/MIA missing man table mean?
The Purple Heart / Badge of Military Merit
Is the Purple Heart the oldest U.S. military decoration?