On Apr 6, 2005, at 9:01 PM, Mike Nelson wrote:
Why is it that the flags on one side of all our city busses, and some fire trucks, are displayed backwards? I've called the MTC, as well as the Fire Dept. and no one can tell me who the person in charge of pasting the things on vehicles is. This is more irritating to me than the issue of when to lower it. It shows a lack of respect. If you care enough to display it, one would think you would do it properly.
From a Google search (for "backward flag") - I would assume the backward flags you are seeing are for the same reason:
QUESTION: Patches on the shoulders of U.S. soldiers in Iraq are arranged the wrong way. The blue and stars should be on the left and not the right of the patch. Why is that?
ANSWER: The backward appearance of the U.S. flag on a serviceman's sleeve is not a mistake. The flag patch worn on the right shoulder of a U.S. soldier's uniform is deliberately reversed. Army regulations call for the flag "to be worn so that to observers, it looks as if the flag is flying against a breeze."
What does a stiff wind have to do with this custom? According to an article in military newspaper, Stars and Stripes, the rule is a nod to the U.S. Army's early history.
Mounted cavalry and infantry units would always designate one soldier as "standard bearer," to carry the flag into the fight. As the standard bearer charged, his rapid forward momentum would cause the flag to stream back. And since the flag is mounted with the canton closest to the pole, that section would always be forward.
So if a soldier is charging into the battle, the flag would give the appearance of forward motion. For the right shoulder, the flag only appears "backward."
David Gadberry Regina
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