2006-07-08 13:18:40 · 17 answers · asked by umaguma42000 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
because it symbolizes them carrying a flag into war. just imagine if you were carrying a flag, it would be facing backwards.
2006-07-08 13:22:04 · answer #1 · answered by krystal 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a symbolic nod to the old (and now impractical) tradition of carrying flags into battle. Imagine the soldier is carrying a flag on a pole; the pole is in front with the flag waving behind. The 'union' or blue part of the flag is in front, nearest the pole. If you look from the side, this will be to your left if you're on the left side and to your right if you're on the right side.
The left shoulder of the uniform is reserved for the unit patch - say, 82nd Airborne or whatever division the person is in. On the right shoulder, the national patch is supposed to mimic what the flag would look like if he were carrying it.
Nations like Poland, Japan and the UK have symmetric flags so they look the same 'backwards.' The French flag would also be reversed (red to the left, blue to the right) - if there were any French troops there, that is. :)
2006-07-08 14:00:50 · answer #2 · answered by dukefenton 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
FIRST: THANKS FOR NOTICING THE OBVIOUS BREACH OF USA FLAG DISPLAY TRADITION.
ANSWER: Because in Desert Storm (1991) some idiot US Army political-general wanted it to be placed on the sleeve of less honor away from the unit/ranger patches, the wrong sleeve and the wrong way to make it look better when our Warrior are facing forward, too this twit of a general it was more important to have the unit patches remain as they were and break USA Flag Display tradition for a fracken fashion statement. I mean, it is the same stupidity that has everyone calling our brave Warriors “warfighters“(it ain't even a dang American English word).
2006-07-08 15:14:00 · answer #3 · answered by oldhawk21 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So When Their Corpses Or Them Turn Up Or Are On TV The Flag Wont Be Backwards. Thats Why Ambulances Have Their Name Backwards. Camera's Are Like Mirrors.
2006-07-08 13:22:12 · answer #4 · answered by Joey Cuntface 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Listen to Krystal. Not the rest of these so far. The flag is on backwards to represent marching into battle vs. retreating.
2006-07-08 13:27:20 · answer #5 · answered by a soldier's dolphin 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is only reversed on the right side. On the left side it is normal. It is depicted the way the wind would be blowing it if the soldier was running into battle
2006-07-08 13:23:18 · answer #6 · answered by tspbrady 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The flag only faces in one direction. if you were to put it on the opposite shoulder, you would have to show the opposite side.
While looking at the flag, the blue field would be upper left, but on the other side, it is upper right.
2006-07-09 05:33:05 · answer #7 · answered by The_moondog 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Where did you see the reverse flag on the uniforms,this is not true,look closely
2006-07-08 13:22:06 · answer #8 · answered by highlander 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There is no reverse. The field of stars holds the highest precedent, and therefore must be attached to the flagpole. I don't run backwards.
2006-07-08 13:52:46 · answer #9 · answered by DOOM 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Krystal and a few others are correct....It was on the news the other day............It's the way the flag would look if you were forging ahead........a soldier never retreats
2006-07-08 16:58:28 · answer #10 · answered by mom of a boy and girl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah the carrying the flag to war part and it also means we are going forward.
2006-07-08 14:02:31 · answer #11 · answered by James B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋