Backwards flags?

[airbumba]

I thought it was just tin hat stuff, but I seen it for myself tonight. Why are American soldiers wearing patches with backwards flags? I don't mean sewn on upside down, I mean they're made backwards? That's a cult thing.

Saw it on NBC nightly news, as a soldier walked by the camera. What's up with that? Am I reading too much into it? I thought it was against the law to fly a flag upside down? Isn't that a sign of disrespect?

One of you ex military guys should be able to help here. Thanks in advance for any info .

[Gnslngr]

OK if you look at the flag on the sleeve it is in fact backwards.  The reason behind it is that as the soldier is moving it looks like the flag is blowing in the proper direction.  Other wise the flag looks as if he's retreating.  

I've heard that a few times and I saw it on "Mail Call"  I'm not sure of how accurate it is but makes sense to me.

I beleive the same goes true about airplane fusalages.  It's inappropriat to make the flag look as if its waving the wrong way.

[capt. apathy]

it's the proper display.  on any vehicle (or anything that is in motion) the flag is to be displayed with the field of stars forward.

check out any vehicle you see with a flag.  all flag emblems on the right side of the vehicle would appear 'back wards'.

as for the uniforms.  I don't know why the don't just design them with the flag on the other shoulder so it would apear ina more traditional way.

[Dago]

Same with flags on airplanes.

dago

[VOR]

The Union (part with the stars in it) always goes first when the flag is advancing.

[Tarmac]

Originally posted by airbumba
I thought it was against the law to fly a flag upside down? Isn't that a sign of disrespect?  

No.  It's a sign of distress to fly a flag upside-down.  Not illegal, any more than flag burning is illegal (ie it's not, but there are some who would like it to be).  

As a sign of distress, my old neighbor (82nd airborne vet) flew the American flag upside down for months after Sept. 11th.  Not because of the attack, but because of the way the country responded afterward.

[Nash]

Now the FLAGS are Flip Flopping where once they were only flapping.

What the hell is going on here?

[Fridaddy]

I have found that alot on...police cars, ambulances, fire vehicles, UPS trucks, and civilian cars. I think its because we (include me too) did not know the proper way to show the US flag.

[airbumba]

OK cool. thanks for the answers, i knew there was a normal reason. That's kionda cool when you think of it, you want soldiers goin forwards and the flag orientation is just letting the fleas know that you intend on goin that way, cool.

Sorry didn't answer earlier, seems i blew out my knee:( maybe even my ACL

Cya up there

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by airbumba

Sorry didn't answer earlier, seems i blew out my knee:( maybe even my ACL

Cya up there

Where kneepads next time!

[jamusta]

Originally posted by Gnslngr
OK if you look at the flag on the sleeve it is in fact backwards.  The reason behind it is that as the soldier is moving it looks like the flag is blowing in the proper direction.

Gnslngr is 100% accurate.

[Gunslinger]

Originally posted by jamusta
Gnslngr is 100% accurate.

If I wasnt over 200,000 US servicemen would be wrong lol.

[airbumba]

Originally posted by Ripsnort
Where kneepads next time!

Crap, seems I walked , or hoblled , into that one    I should know better, with the folks that dwell in the AH BBS's, than to put the words 'blew' and 'knee' in the same sentence and not expect some form of edged retort, hehe.

[jamusta]

Originally posted by Gunslinger
If I wasnt over 200,000 US servicemen would be wrong lol.

Actually It would be more than that since the politicians dressed in General Officer uniforms are requiring all members of the Army to wear them whether in country or not. So with the 400,000 or so active and 1 million reservist. At this rate I'll get my combat patch just for being in the military.