My wife was putting together a small model of Air Force One, when she noticed that one of the stickers, the flag was in reverse. She thought it was an error, and at first so did I.
But it is not. On one side of the plane, and even on the real Air Force One, the flag is faced the other way. Why is that? When we look up at a flag we always see the Star Field first, with the stripes trailing. Same thing goes with a Flag that might be on one side of the plane, or a flag patch on a military uniform.
As you can see by the pictures below, the difference on both sides. So next time you look at a flag, remember the stars come first, followed by the stripes…
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David says
The flag is reversed on the right side to show we are never retreating but instead charging forward. Picture someone actually running with a flagpole. The image would be stars first from the rigt side. On military uniforms the flag belongs on the right side as a sign of respect, and thusly is reversed.
Chuck Stewart says
The pole side of the flag must always be first in the direction on the object, as if a real flag was attacked to the plane, it comes from the middle ages when the front of the flag (pole side) went forward into battle.
Allen says
A lot of military and public safety groups have been doing that with the flag. I was told by a solider that it represents the flag “charging in to battle”. Take notice to some military uniforms, they do the same thing.
Tom Shewbridge says
I know about the military uniforms, we had a flag on ours in Desert Storm/Shield, but not all Military Branches do it the same way. But the Star Field always has to be first, with the Stripes Trailing.
Sharon G says
Interesting to know! I had never noticed. But to me, it looks backwards in the first picture on the left. Maybe from being taught to read from left to right? lol Still, neat post 🙂
Tom Shewbridge says
That is the way it is supposed to look, that is why I am sharing, not sure if most people knew why though, when flying, the star field always has to be first, with the stripes trailing it!