Old Guard Soldiers fold a flag over a casket in Arlington National Cemetery captured by our @arlingtonmedia team.
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Arlington Media was excited to cover one of the first services with the return of the full escort element and band in over a year. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, these elements have not been part of services held at Arlington National Cemetery, and it was both an honor and a pleasure to witness this service and the full escort elements and band playing tribute earlier today in the millennium section. Photos: Jenny Girard/Arlington Media
American flags and American military uniforms feature the U.S. flag; however, its placement on uniforms is unusual, as it is worn facing backward. The rule is that the blue field of stars should always be in the highest position of honor on the uniform. That position has always been the right shoulder with the flag’s blue stars facing forward. The idea behind the backward American flag on Army uniforms is to make it look as though the flag is flying in the breeze as the person wearing it moves forward. During the Civil War, both mounted cavalry and infantry units would designate a standard bearer, who carried the flag into battle. As this standard bearer charged, his forward momentum caused the flag to stream back. Since the Stars and Stripes are mounted with the canton closest to the pole, that section of the flag stayed to the right, while the stripes flew to the left. Therefore, the flag is worn on the right shoulder, and wearing it backward gives the effect of the flag flying in the breeze as the wearer moves forward. The regulation states that the stars are to face forward. When authorized for application to the proper uniform the American flag patch is to be worn, right or left shoulder. One of the flags will, therefore, be reversed (right shoulder) in order to adhere to the regulation and custom of having the stars facing forward. The term, “Assaulting Forward” has been adopted by combat troops (instead of “facing forward”).
