That's because the flag on an American servicemember's uniform is backward. That is to say, the canton (the top left corner), which houses the blue field of 50 white stars, is in the upper right.

(Vexillology is the study of the history, symbolism and usage of flags.) Matthew Ward is a senior lecturer in history at the University of Dundee in Scotland. He notes that the American flag is ...

Flags can also be ordered lowered in other circumstances, including a national tragedy or on Memorial Day. Since U.S. flag ...