Author Topic: Wat the heck American flag backwards  (Read 6927 times)

Offline inkman996

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Wat the heck American flag backwards
« on: December 20, 2013, 09:25:29 AM »
I am really stumped right now. We are currently doing a big program for Boston University's ROTC.

Everything has been finalized four locations in total. One of the locations is the American Flag on the right sleeve. They approved so I went ahead and ordered 200 pre-printed flags from Transfer express. Today I get an email from the dusty saying one minor change the flag has to be backwards like it is on our uniforms.  OK that sucks now we have all these flags and cannot use them.

I come from a military family I should know this but i do not. Why the hell is the flag backwards on the army's uniform?
"No man is an island"


Offline tpitman

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Re: Wat the heck American flag backwards
« Reply #1 on: December 20, 2013, 09:34:16 AM »
Just a guess but if it's on the right sleeve, it's probably backwards so it will be flying from front to back. Would probably be right-facing if it were on the left sleeve.
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Offline mk162

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Re: Wat the heck American flag backwards
« Reply #2 on: December 20, 2013, 09:41:18 AM »
tpitman is right, military uni's always fly the flag as if you are running forward, the flag would be blowing behind you. 

Offline Croft

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Re: Wat the heck American flag backwards
« Reply #3 on: December 20, 2013, 09:43:37 AM »
I felt a little dense last year when I asked on another forum I was told that the flag always leads into battle .

Offline Denis Kolar

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Re: Wat the heck American flag backwards
« Reply #4 on: December 20, 2013, 09:46:29 AM »
Stars are always in the front

Offline Croft

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Re: Wat the heck American flag backwards
« Reply #5 on: December 20, 2013, 09:48:30 AM »
I did notice our flag is also shown the same way EH!  ;)

Offline Colin

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Re: Wat the heck American flag backwards
« Reply #6 on: December 20, 2013, 09:58:04 AM »
I found out last year that it's "Stars to Heart"

So on the right sleeve the flag will look backwards.
Been in the industry since 1996.  5+ years with QCM Inks.  Been a part of shops of all sizes and abilities both as a printer and as an Artist/separator.  I am now the Ink and Chemical Product Manager at Ryonet.

Offline Dottonedan

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Re: Wat the heck American flag backwards
« Reply #7 on: December 20, 2013, 10:01:03 AM »
From my Marine son-in-law, It's representing running forward towards the enemy.
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Offline inkman996

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Re: Wat the heck American flag backwards
« Reply #8 on: December 20, 2013, 10:01:08 AM »
Wow how silly I feel about this. I cannot wait till Christmas I will be spending it with my sister and my brother in law. He is an Army Brigadier General. Will pick his brains about this one.
"No man is an island"

Offline Sbrem

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Re: Wat the heck American flag backwards
« Reply #9 on: December 20, 2013, 10:53:13 AM »
I just went through this about a month ago, and here's the deal: If the flag is on the left sleeve, the star field is in the upper left; if the flag is on the right sleeve, then the star field is in the upper right. The idea is that the flag is moving forward. If you were in a parade carrying a flag, the star field will be in the upper right from one side of the street, and the upper left from the other side of the street. If on a military car, the drivers side would have the field in the upper left, and on the passenger side, the upper right. Blew me away, I've been printing flags for about 1000 years... When I buy embroidered iron-on patches, you have to specify which ones you want, and you'd better be careful when you start applying them...

Steve
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Offline GaryG

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Re: Wat the heck American flag backwards
« Reply #10 on: December 20, 2013, 11:02:51 AM »
Learned this a little bit ago too. Hard to find stock "Right" flags.

NFL uniforms have the Nike logo like this too!
First saw the swoosh backwards in a shoulder and said what??

Offline mimosatexas

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Re: Wat the heck American flag backwards
« Reply #11 on: December 20, 2013, 11:10:20 AM »
Went through the same thing a few months ago when we landed a bunch of work for the local army reserves.  Made sense after a little wikipedia reading.

The swoosh being backward like that is stupid imo...

Offline Homer

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Re: Wat the heck American flag backwards
« Reply #12 on: December 20, 2013, 11:18:31 AM »
stars face the heart ONLY for military, it does not apply to civilian attire....in fact it is frowned upon...

so we've been told....over and over again
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Offline Sbrem

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Re: Wat the heck American flag backwards
« Reply #13 on: December 20, 2013, 05:04:37 PM »
Learned this a little bit ago too. Hard to find stock "Right" flags.

NFL uniforms have the Nike logo like this too!
First saw the swoosh backwards in a shoulder and said what??

NFL logos on the helmets do this too

Steve
I made a mistake once; I thought I was wrong about something; I wasn't

Offline Sbrem

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Re: Wat the heck American flag backwards
« Reply #14 on: December 20, 2013, 05:05:44 PM »
stars face the heart ONLY for military, it does not apply to civilian attire....in fact it is frowned upon...

so we've been told....over and over again

Cops too, I think...

Steve
I made a mistake once; I thought I was wrong about something; I wasn't