The Stars and Stripes now graces the right shoulder of every Soldier in uniform. The U.S. Flag Code calls for the canton, the rectangle with the stars, to be positioned to the left as the flag is viewed. So why is it reversed on the flags we wear on our uniforms?

The tradition originates from the time when cavalry and infantry units had standard bearers, who carried the colors into battle. During the charge, the standard bearer's forward momentum caused the flag to stream backward. The canton, which flies closest to the pole, appeared on the right when seen from the right side of the passing formation.

Source: Illinois Guardian, Fall-Winter 2004
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So there's the reason why you wear a reversed flag on your right sleeve.

Right on Tanner! Stars go into battle. I order right-sleeved flag from our police supplier. You wouldn't believe how many times I am asked by kids in the front row, "hey ref, why is your flag backwards?". To top it off, MLB has left sleeved flags on their right shoulders on the warm-up jackets. But hey, they try to patriotic with the whole God Bless America thing. A real pet peeve of mine!

One of my pet peeves too.

Why would you expect non-military types to know this? If I was going to buy a flag patch, I would just buy a friggin' flag patch. Are you saying it's non-patriotic if you wear a flag with the blue part on the left if it's on your right friggin' arm? How silly...

Of course not, just saying that if it's going to be done, why not do it right. Most catalogs state it's for the left sleeve.

Seriously...I would bet the vast majority of non-military people have no clue that there's a flag fashion rule. You can't possibly expect people to know this. I don't even know why I'm talking about it. I am bored at work...

Its not necessarily unpatriotic but it is certainly improper. If you're going to wear a flag you should wear it correctly. You don't have to be in the military to know this, you don't even have to know why it is like that, I think the rule is anytime on a moving object the blue should be to the front.

It was covered when I was in grade school. And, while I certainly don't remember all the specifics, I *do* know there is a "flag code" and I'll be able to look something up if I need to.

Guess I was absent that day. I never heard of it till someone mentioned it in this forum. Doesn't matter anyway, I don't wear a flag patch or plan on wearing one unless the association requires it someday.

The flags I wear for my football crew, we bought at a uniform shop. This store put them on and said nothing about how they were to be worn. They never stated to us what the regulation is or if we violated any rules. Come to find out they are facing the wrong way. How in the hell would anyone know that. This is a uniform store that sells stuff for police and fire departments.

This is why in basketball I just do not wear flags. Not everyone wears them and it does not prove anything. Just one more thing to worry about.

Peace

Jeff, it's because of people like you that I have to carry 1 shirt with a flag and 1 shirt without a flag in my bag! You too Smitty!!

:)

btw, I do notice there are fewer people wearing them these days.

No that is because you want to drive yourself crazy trying to match your partner. ;) And here we work 3 Person for most varsity games. I would rather not wear the flag. There is no mandate to wear a flag in my state. It is totally optional. Just like who wears pleated pants and the western front pants. All that is required is the pants and the color, not the style.

Peace

I don't wear a flag for the same reason I don't have one of those yellow ribbon magnets on my car that says "Support Our Troops". I support our troops and my country without the desire to advertise it. And besides, it's hard enough to get my wife to sew on the velcro for my state patch. Asking her to sew on something else would only be bad for me in the long run. :)

Flag
 

The flag is a very powerful symbol. If you don't know the rules about the flag the Boy Scouts or the local American Legion can help. My personal favorites are the dirty, tattered, mud splattered flags on car radio antennas, local HS has the cheer squad for football stand on the field holding this car lot sized flag. Everyone sings, has deep thoughts and then the girls crumple it up and throw it in the back of a maintnance cart-where it sits, rain or shine, for the rest of the night. If you are going to play with flags learn some of the rules , please-its patriotic.

While discussing cultural differences, I had a British person once comment to me that the Queen is the enduring symbol of their nation, and the flag seems to be the enduring symbol of ours. I had to agree. Presidents, politicians, policies and all the rest have come and gone, and the flag remains as the universally recognizable symbol of the USA. That's why folks spend so much time burning it, they're symbolically destroying us as a nation.

As a young man growing up, and also as a boy scout, I was taught about the symbolism of the flag. I was also taught that there were right and wrong ways to display it. I would not condemn another person for displaying it incorrectly. But I feel that as a citizen of this country, you owe it to yourself to understand the symbolism of the flag and to educate yourself about how to properly display it. To purposely show respect for the flag, is to purposely show your respect for our country.

Off my soapbox now ;)

Flag Care
 

Burning the flag is a respectful and honorable way to discard a flag . Ironic but still true. That has always cracked me up the "kill the flag burners " crowd. Ugh that is how the military handles flags. i wonder if the "kill the flag burners " crowd really mean is kill all people who don't think like we do. Anyway no yelling at me my family has a long and proud relationship with the military.

Here's the thing, and I can't believe I'm even bothering with this, but it's a slow day. If I don't know in any way shape or form that there is such a thing as flag etiquette - if I have no clue whatsoever that there is a right or wrong way to put a flag on your shirt, how am I supposed to know to ask someone how to do it correctly?

Not to parse the rules as we so commonly do on this board, but technically it's wrong to wear the flag on athletic uniforms and it specifically states that in the United States Code. Title 4, Section 8j states,"No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations. The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near the heart."

Just some food for thought...

Well now you know. And if you tell two people, and they tell two people... ;)

Won't I be a hit at the Super Bowl party... :)

Re: Flag Care
 

Respectfully retiring a flag is a very different matter from setting it alight in the streets while firing your automatic weapon in the air and chanting "Death to America. Death to the great Satan." And it's a different matter from the folks here at home who are so bitter about not getting things their way that they feel the need to symbolically burn us all.

And as for the comment about "kill all people who don't think like we do," sadly there is too much of that sentiment on both sides of the argument, don't you think?

Use it as a pick-up line. Chicks dig this stuff :D