# American Flag Patches - Why Are Some Backwards? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 16, 2007, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-flag-patches-why-are-some-backwards/411914 "2007-07-16T01:05:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-flag-patches-why-are-some-backwards/411914/1 "2007-07-16T01:05:06Z")
Okay, I’ve only seen this the last few years and I don’t really understand what’s up. Basically, from what I’ve seen all my life, the default image of USA flag has the blue field and stars on to the top-left. Yes, I do understand that a flag, when viewed from the other side, is going to have the field on the top-right. However, whenever you see the image of a flag it is pretty much always in the top-left position. Lately, though, I’ve been seeing patches on military types in the reverse position. Why? -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-flag-patches-why-are-some-backwards/411914/2 "2007-07-16T01:23:09Z")
Because when worn on the right sleeve, the flag patch is shown in a way that one could imagine the flag waving in the breeze as the soldier advances. It is also displayed that way on airplanes, like [here.](http://www.f22major.com/Photos/Military/Miscellaneous/Air%20Force%20One%20Over%20Mt.%20Rushmore.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-flag-patches-why-are-some-backwards/411914/3 "2007-07-16T01:41:00Z")
Ravenman nailed it. I asked my brothers (both Marines) the same question and apparently it was changed because in the “normal” position it looks like the flag is retreating. Not that our soldiers don’t have enough to worry about… ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-flag-patches-why-are-some-backwards/411914/4 "2007-07-16T01:41:06Z")
:smack: ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-flag-patches-why-are-some-backwards/411914/5 "2007-07-16T11:04:12Z")
Even if the soldier was retreating, the flag would still appear Union Right, on the right shoulder. Hold a flag on a stick. Walk forward (or turn around and run away). Either way, the union will be on the right to any observers on the right. The flag isn’t backwards. That’s how a real flag would look if it _were_ a real flag. It looks more natural and more _real_ that way. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-flag-patches-why-are-some-backwards/411914/6 "2007-07-16T11:54:23Z")
This question gets asked so often it ought to be made a sticky. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-flag-patches-why-are-some-backwards/411914/7 "2007-07-16T11:57:19Z")
[QUOTE=Peter Morris] This question gets asked so often it ought to be made a sticky. [/QUOTE] Really? I’ve never seen it before and found it quite interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-flag-patches-why-are-some-backwards/411914/8 "2007-07-16T12:18:32Z")
> [@](#): > > Really? I’ve never seen it before and found it quite interesting. [http://tinyurl.com/2t4sah](http://tinyurl.com/2t4sah) [http://tinyurl.com/323qow](http://tinyurl.com/323qow) [http://tinyurl.com/39kr7o](http://tinyurl.com/39kr7o) [http://tinyurl.com/36w9jl](http://tinyurl.com/36w9jl) [http://tinyurl.com/2jw4ej](http://tinyurl.com/2jw4ej) [http://tinyurl.com/2u4mze](http://tinyurl.com/2u4mze) [http://tinyurl.com/36sl7p](http://tinyurl.com/36sl7p) [http://tinyurl.com/2okazg](http://tinyurl.com/2okazg) ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-flag-patches-why-are-some-backwards/411914/9 "2007-07-16T12:30:33Z")
[QUOTE=Priceguy] Really? I’ve never seen it before and found it quite interesting. [/QUOTE] You must not look at GQ very often. 🙂 [Why is US flag printed in reverse on US airplanes?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=403451) [Why is the flag reversed on uniforms?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=395790) [why is one US flag patch backwards on mil uniforms?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=363398) [Ranger backward flag patches](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=241359) [US troops’ uniforms have the US flag reversed. Why?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=203791) [Backwards flag on US uniforms](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=175734) [American flag direction on military uniforms](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=174576) [Why is the American Flag Backwards on Plane Tails?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=117450) ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-flag-patches-why-are-some-backwards/411914/10 "2007-07-16T13:06:59Z")
[QUOTE=friedo] You must not look at GQ very often. [/QUOTE] I guess this is the first time I noticed it.