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What does an American flag stand for if it is reversed and black?

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12-13-2007 , 12:55 AM

h_ven

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,565

A card dealer was showing off his new tattoo to a friend. I watched him tenderly pull up the sleeve of his shirt as it was a freshly drawn tattoo. The tattoo was a black and backwards American flag. This guy had prosthetic leg, and visible damage to his arm.

Is this anti-american or do people get this when they return from war?

His tattoo was black and less detail then this.

I googled and couldn't find anything about what it meas.

http://www.nationalpolicesupply.com/...image&pID=2052

12-13-2007 , 01:00 AM

recipro

adept

Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 729

How is this reversed? You do know that one side of a flag looks like this, right?

12-13-2007 , 01:06 AM

miajag

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 17,328

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_Combat_Uniform#Jacket

"Subdued (non-full color) unit patches are always worn, as well as a subdued or full-color U.S. flag cloth, or IR replica, positioned so that the star field faces forward, or to the flag's right. This gives the impression that the soldier is advancing into battle with the flag unfurling behind them."

12-13-2007 , 01:13 AM

chucksim

old hand

Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,685

The black color I don't know, but on a right arm or sleeve it is shown that way as if the wearer is moving forward, and the flag is blown backwards as if blowing in the wind.

It symbolizes that the American military always moves forward and does not retreat.

http://www.usflag.org/flagpatch.html

12-13-2007 , 03:16 AM

d10

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,513

It's pretty common for guys in the military to get tattoos replicating patches that they normally wear on their uniform. It used to be in the Army you wear the "reversed" US flag patch on your right arm when you deployed to a war zone. A few years ago it was changed so that everyone wears it, but that was because of the kind of war we're involved in, it's still supposed to symbolize a soldier at war.

12-13-2007 , 12:15 PM

TheBlueMonster

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 3,615

Quote:

Originally Posted by miajag

that's very subtle and completely badass at the same

12-13-2007 , 01:09 PM

Rootabager

banned

Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 4,180

yeah if your a soldier that's a bad ass tattoo.

12-13-2007 , 04:05 PM

wadea

grinder

Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 573

Quote:

Originally Posted by miajag

Right, I think the flag tattoo on a left arm would be the normal configuration and a flag tattoo on a right arm would be in the reverse configuration with the stars on the right. As posted above, this denotes forward movement. All black is not uncommon for tattoos, so that may be the only real reason.

12-13-2007 , 05:19 PM

ContactGSW

grinder

Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 672

That solves a long time mystery; having grown up in a military family was used to the flag with the stripes in front, then saw a lot of soldiers while in Alaska with it reversed. It always looked weird and I just assumed some brass had made a regulation because of a personal preference, now I understand.

12-13-2007 , 08:18 PM

#10

MonkeyPox

undeserving

Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,841

It means he couldn't afford the color.

12-13-2007 , 09:24 PM

#11

React1oN

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 12,270

Wow this is really cool, I've never heard of this.

I agree if a soldier, this seems really bad ass.

12-16-2007 , 04:58 PM

#12

cbebop007

centurion

Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 130

I'm with React1oN: never heard of it, but sounds cool. I bet the black color doesn't really mean anything.

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