Randahl Fink

Today I learned something new, thanks to @Gleisplan.

When a US soldier has a US flag patch on his shoulders it looks like the flag is mirrored on his right shoulder, but that is intentional.

The idea is, the right shoulder patch looks like a real flag would look, if the soldier was carrying a real flag on a pole and running forward — if you stood to his right you would indeed see the stars of the flag to the right in the direction the pole is moving.
https://mastodon.social/@Gleisplan/115226570453958167

Sep 18, 2025 at 9:58pmIvory for iOS
Show threadBrian M Knoblock 🇺🇸🇳🇴 🦊Sep 18, 2025

@randahl @Gleisplan

I've seen that on military uniforms for other countries and agree with the premise.

My dad was a Navy Vet and he had to correct me once because I had a Norwegian flag on the right sleeve of my Phillies uniform. The flag should have been upside down in order to appear mirrored.

Rather than having the flag be upside down, I just put it on the right chest so it could be in the normal orientation.

Show threadLeelooSep 18, 2025

@randahl @Gleisplan
Have people never seen a real flag? Only pictures of flags with the wind coming from the left?

Real flags have two sides, and most if not all flags have the same part of the flag (in this case the stars) towards the flag pole on both sides.

Though I do seem to recall seeing pictures of a made in China American flag with the stars away from the flag pole on one side.

Show threadBrian GrinterSep 19, 2025
@randahl also on aircraft so it appears the flag flutters given direction of travel
Show threadRandahl FinkSep 19, 2025
@bgrinter interesting. Thank you.
Show threadDominik 🇬🇱🇺🇦🇪🇺🟥🟢Sep 19, 2025

@randahl

Oh, and I did not mention you because I thought you know this an the article I've linked in my comment was written in german. 🫠

Show threadRandahl FinkSep 19, 2025
@Gleisplan kein Problem. Wir Dänen lernen Deutsch in der Grundschule.
Show threadDominik 🇬🇱🇺🇦🇪🇺🟥🟢Sep 19, 2025

@randahl

ach deshalb könnt ihr das alle

Show threadDan UllénSep 19, 2025

@randahl You don’t need to look outside your own borders actually. 🙂

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/83/Royal_Danish_Army_at_JMTC%2C_Grafenwoehr_140704-A-BS310-091.jpg

Show threadRandahl FinkSep 19, 2025
@danullen interesting. Thanks.