Editing Flag of the United States (section)

===Display on uniforms===
On some U.S. military uniforms, flag patches are worn on the right shoulder, following the vehicle convention with the union toward the front. This rule dates back to the Army's early history when mounted cavalry and infantry units would designate a standard-bearer who carried the Colors into battle. As he charged, his forward motion caused the flag to stream back. Since the Stars and Stripes are mounted with the canton closest to the pole, that section stayed to the right, while the stripes flew to the left.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thebalancecareers.com/why-is-the-u-s-flag-worn-backwards-on-army-uniforms-3357002 |title=Why the U.S. Flag Is Worn Backward on Army Uniforms |website=The Balance |publisher=[[Dotdash]] |date=September 23, 2019 |first=Stewart |last=Smith |access-date=April 20, 2020 |archive-date=May 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519154639/https://www.thebalancecareers.com/why-is-the-u-s-flag-worn-backwards-on-army-uniforms-3357002 }}</ref> Several U.S. military uniforms, such as flight suits worn by members of the United States Air Force and Navy, have the flag patch on the left shoulder.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/afi36-2903/afi36-2903.pdf|title=SUBJECT: Air Force Guidance Memorandum to AFI 36-2903, Dress and Personal Appearance of Air Force Personnel|website=Static.e-publishing.af.mil|access-date=October 15, 2017|archive-date=November 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181102090647/http://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/afi36-2903/afi36-2903.pdf}}</ref><ref name="navytimes">{{cite web|url=http://www.navytimes.com/news/2011/09/navy-aviators-ditch-new-flight-suit-wear-rules-092611w/ | title=Navy aviators ditch new flight suit wear rules|website=Navy Times|access-date=October 27, 2014}}</ref>

Other organizations that wear flag patches on their uniforms can have the flag facing in either direction. The [[congressional charter]] of the Boy Scouts of America stipulates that [[Uniform and insignia of the Boy Scouts of America|Boy Scout uniforms]] should not imitate U.S. military uniforms; consequently, the flags are displayed on the right shoulder with the stripes facing front, the reverse of the military style.<ref name="scouting">{{cite web |url=http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2014/03/11/ask-the-expert-is-the-american-flag-backward-on-scout-uniforms/ |title=Is the American flag 'backward' on Scout uniforms? |last1=Self |first1=Peter |date=March 11, 2014 |work=[[Scouting (magazine)|Scouting]]|access-date=November 18, 2014 |quote="Imitation of United States Army, Navy or Marine Corps uniforms is prohibited, in accordance with the provisions of the organization's Congressional Charter."}}</ref> Law enforcement officers often wear a small flag patch, either on a shoulder or above a shirt pocket.

Every U.S. [[astronaut]] since the crew of [[Gemini 4]] has worn the flag on the left shoulder of his or her [[space suit]], except for the crew of [[Apollo 1]], whose flags were worn on the right shoulder. In this case, the canton was on the left.

<gallery widths="180" heights="160">
File:Amflagurban.jpg|A subdued-color [[flag patch]], similar to the style worn on the United States Army's [[ACU uniform]]. The patch is customarily worn reversed on the right upper sleeve.
File:Neil Armstrong pose.jpg|Flag of the United States on American astronaut [[Neil Armstrong]]'s space suit
File:160803-N-RY232-012 - United States Navy Working Uniform (NWU) Type III U.S. flag patch.png|Patch with the union to the front, as seen on a [[Navy Working Uniform|Navy uniform]]
</gallery>