http://www.usflag.org/uscode36.html
UNITED STATES CODE
TITLE 36
CHAPTER 10
§176. Respect for flag
No disrespect
should be shown to the flag of the United States of America; the flag should not
be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental colors, State flags, and
organization or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor.
(a) The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as
a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to
life or property.
(b) The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such
as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.
(c) ...
(through (k))
The Army has two authorized flag patches, one to beworn on the left shoulder, with the canton facing left, andanother “reverse field” patch worn on the right shoulder, withthe canton facing right. The two different orientations aremandated because Army regulations call for the flag “to beworn so that to observers, it looks as if the flag is flying againsta breeze.”
The ruleis a nod to the U.S. Army’s early history, when wars were fought
as a series of carefully choreographed battles, with two armies meeting on a
field, clashing head-on until one side emerged victorious. In those battles,
infantry and mounted cavalry units would always designate one soldier as
“standard bearer” to carry the colors into the fight. As the standard bearer
charged, his rapid forward movement would cause the flag to stream back. And
since the Stars and Stripes is mounted with the canton next to the pole, that
section would always be forward.So if a soldier were charging into battle, the
flag would give the appearance of forward motion. When worn on the right
shoulder, the flag only appears to be back-wards.
And that’s why soldiers wear the flag patches on the right shoulder back-wards. Because retreat in battle, as any soldier will tell you, is not the Army way.
(Note: A change to Army Regulation 670-1, Wear andAppearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia, dated 5 September2003, instructs all soldiers, regardless of deployment status,to permanently wear the U.S. flag insignia on utility uniforms.This includes battle dress uniforms [BDUs], desert BDUs[DBDUs], maternity BDUs, cold weather coats, air crew BDUs,and combat vehicle crewman [CVC] uniforms and jackets [coldweather]. The mandatory wear date is 1 October 2005.)
I hope this clearifys things for you, and for those who like to know fact from "Urban Legend". The Only way the rules can be ammended are by "Proclaimation" of the President of the United States.
BTW:
No, lol, things haven't change since the time of "my age
vets". It still takes a Presidential Proclamation to change the rules of the
Flag.
My best wishes and Gods speed to your children.
Please however, one
of the worst things we can do as Americans, or those who "call" themselves
Americans; is to Not have Faith in, or Lack Trust in our armed
forces.
I'm not going to beat a dead horse, here. So, thanks for the chat and good luck with your E6.
