Posted on 02/09/2009 9:26:58 AM PST by CTOCS
What's with all the backwards US flags I'm seeing on TV and the movies these days?
On 3 separate episodes of NCIS, one of the cast members was in military BDU's and wearing the US flag on the upper right shoulder. Problem was the flag was made backwards (blue union on upper right instead of left). In one Van Damm movie the flag was draped over a casket upside down AND backwards. This at a military funeral. In one war movie, the flag on the tank was backwards.
This is the epitome of ignorance, apathy, and disrepect as far as I'm comcerned.
I can't expect the poor, dumb, Chinese bastard who made it to know the difference, but I damned well expect the American who ordered it and spec'd it to.
Why aren't the viewers complaining? Why are we putting up with this crap?
Is anyone else noticing this?
Not that I remember. It appears to be fairly new on uniforms (post 4). When I was in (Air Force 87-94), I don't remember seeing any flags that were reversed or worn on the right shoulder being worn Stateside. IIRC, when the balkans heated up, I could swear I remember seeing reversed flags on the right shoulders of U.S. Troops serving under U.N. command, but that may be a faulty memory. Also, I remember subdued flag patches, but I can't recall whether I remember seeing them reversed and on the right shoulder.
You are just plain WRONG.
The blue canton always faces the direction of adavnce
Told you I knew the code since I was young:
“When it is displayed from the same flagpole with another flag - of a state, community, society or Scout unit - the flag of the United States must always be at the top except that the church pennant may be flown above the flag during church services for Navy personnel when conducted by a Naval chaplain on a ship at sea.”
http://www.usflag.org/flagetiquette.html
It is not "some unit" it is our folks serving in the military over seas. Read the link in post 4. It will explain it to you. Also, this is NOT in violation of flag etiquette.
Thought it must be a fairly recent “tradition.”
At least I never remember seeing the flag that way when I was growing up.
The right side is the side of honor. When walking with someone of higher rank, they stand to the right too.
This is a reason to disrespect our national flag ?
See post 4, and post 50 and get over it. This etiquette has been around since long before Clinton. You can be certain that the military does not disrepect the flag.
http://www.legion.org/national/americanflag/flagcode
(f) When flags of States, cities, or localities, or pennants of societies are flown on the same halyard with the flag of the United States, the latter should always be at the peak. When the flags are flown from adjacent staffs, the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last. No such flag or pennant may be placed above the flag of the United States or to the United States flag’s right.
When did congress change the law ?It was in violation until congress changed the law.
I just checked the right sleeves of the 2 LTCs and SSG in my office, the flag is on the right sleeve of their BDUs with the union facing forward “advancing toward the enemy”.
The photo of Gen Petraeus (post 50) shows it correctly.
This isn't disrespect and if memory serves me correctly, it started during Bush 41s administration in the first Gulf War as a symbol the US was leading the charge in a joint operation.
I have or had a Boy Scout manual that forbade the use of any other flag on the same pole. From my recollection of being in scouting in the 1950s, this was strictly forbidden.
It is certainly not.
Eric, you certainly are wrong. It's not very far down the link
http://www.usflag.org/flagetiquette.html
Please provide code section; because you are wrong.
Where do you get off ragging on service members and FReepers who know it's proper just because you don't have a fraggin clue wtf you are talking about?
What have you done to serve and protect this Republic? I'm a member of the American Legion. I have been a trainer of trainers in Boy Scouts of America for thirty years. I have taught flag etiquette for over thirty years. Who is ignorant ?I spent six years serving to protect this Free Republic.
No other COUNTRY’S flag may share a pole with the U.S. flag. that may be what you are remembering.
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